Crime Prevention Tips For Safer Holiday Shopping



Posted: Sunday, October 10, 2010

by Teresa Bernard
A1 Self Defense Products

The winter holiday season is a busy time of the year for everyone including crooks. A lot of people
are distracted by all the little details of their holiday plans and the shopping that lays ahead of them. Holiday shoppers are running from store to store often carrying large amounts of money and loaded down with packages. Perhaps more so than at other times of the year. Regrettably criminals will also be out and about looking for their next easy mark. This is certainly not the time to let your guard down. Becoming the unfortunate victim of a crime can certainly destroy anyone's Christmas cheer. The FBI reports that criminal activity increases during December. Crimes such as burglaries, muggings, car thefts, robberies, pick pocketing, credit card scams, etc. Remember to be vigilantly follow all the safety measures you normal do when it's not the holiday season. Criminals will be on the look out for someone they can catch off guard. The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the shopping season for the holidays. As you begin that holiday shopping, you might want some advice on how to avoid becoming an easy mark for criminals. Remember this advice is helpful year round as well. PARKING LOT SAFETY TIPS Trying to stay safe while you are shopping for Christmas can be a little difficult. Mainly because there are fewer daylight hours in the day at this season of the year. Often shoppers arrive at a mall when it is day and find that it has gotten dark outside by the time they are ready to leave. Anxious to get inside and make their purchases, many shoppers don't consider this when they park. Because parking lots fill up quickly this time of year, it might be harder to find a good parking spot. Look for one that has plenty of light and lots of pedestrian traffic around. Avoid parking in remote areas if at all possible and don't forget to lock your vehicle when you leave. Become familiar with the area where you parked. Take a mental note of the row and number so you can easily find your car when you return. Take a companion along when you shop. This will lessen your chances of being targeted by an attacker or mugger. If you have no choice but to shop alone, then try to walk with other shoppers through the parking lot. SHOPPING MALL SAFETY TIPS While shopping inside it is a good idea to avoid dark hallways and stockrooms, especially at closing time. Be sure to only use bathrooms that are located in high traffic areas of the mall such as the food court. Be constantly guarded and vigilant as you move through crowds. Watch out for any unfamiliar person who bumps, pushes or gets too close. These may be a tactic designed to draw your attention away from pickpockets trying to take your wallet. Be sure to keep a close watch on your shopping bags and other personal effects as well. Always keep your purse close by. Never leave it unattended in the shopping cart. Don't carry your wallet, credit cards or cash in the back pocket of your pants or in your backpack. These are places pickpockets find it easy to get at without being noticed. Keep them in your front pockets instead. It's not a good idea to carry large amounts of cash around. Whenever you can, try to pay for your purchases with checks, credit cards, or debit cards. When you do have to pay with cash only pull out what is needed. Keep the rest of your money hidden from view. Make your most expensive purchases last so you can head straight home afterwards. Try not to overload yourself with packages when it is time to return to your car. Combine smaller ones with one or two larger packages, or make several trips to your car. If you are overburdened, you won't be able to see who may be approaching and it could prevent you from quickly responding to a threat. It's best to have your car keys ready and in hand when you reach your vehicle to prevent having to search for them. You may also want to check if you are being followed to your car too. When you approach your car wait until you get closer to use your remote to unlock it. Unlocking your car from a distance could alert a would-be attacker which vehicle is yours. He could then race ahead and be waiting for you arrive. Before you get into your car scan the back seat and other areas where an attacker might hide to make sure it is safe to do so. Don't leave your valuables and packages inside your vehicle in plain sight. It is best to put them into your trunk where they are hidden from view. Failure to do so could be cause for someone to break into your car and take your belongings. When you get inside your car, lock your doors without delay and then drive away. Don't sit there to check off your list or write purchases into your checkbook ledger. Do that later when you are at home. Waiting around creates the ideal opportunity for an attacker to get inside your car, particularly if you didn't lock your doors. An additional precaution you may to consider is to carry a personal alarm. A personal alarm is great for getting the attention of witnesses if you ever need it. They are easily carried on your wrist or key chain and will emit a loud annoying noise when activated. An attacker will not like that kind of attention. He will stop his assault and go away. Following these safety tips will help your Christmas to be a cheerful and joyful affair. You can learn more about personal security devices and other products for self defense visit a1selfdefenseproducts.com.
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