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Wednesday, December 10, 1997

Sheriff gives safety advice for last-minute shoppers

With Christmas fast approaching, last-minute shoppers are making their lists and checking them twice. "But, as they rush to locate those last elusive items," says Caddo Parish Sheriff Don Hathaway, "they are probably neglecting to check their own safety."

Just how safe is shopping at this time of year? "Not as safe as you might assume it to be," Sheriff Hathaway warns, "in spite of -- perhaps because of -- the throngs of people crowding the shopping malls. The larger crowds and extended store hours tend to attract more shopping-related criminal activity. These factors create a more favorable environment for petty thieves and other offenders."

The Sheriff urges shoppers to be on their guard so they are not one of the nearly 40 million people a year who become statistics in the U.S. Justice Department's National Crime Victimization Survey. Across the country, shopping malls are heightening security measures by hiring additional personnel -- many of them Sheriffs' deputies -- and installing surveillance cameras to monitor parking lots and entrance ways.

"Unfortunately, people have a tendency to let their guard down when shopping," Sheriff Hathaway said. "There are, however, several precautions busy shoppers can take to help eliminate their chances of becoming crime victims."

• Always shop with another person. The lone shopper is a thief's ultimate target.
• Tell someone where you are going to shop and what time you expect to return home.
• If you are in a store and sense you are being followed, locate a store employee or security personnel. Be prepared to give a complete description of the person you suspect.
• If you carry cash, keep it in a front pocket, where it is more difficult for a pick-pocket to locate and remove.
• Make a list of all credit card numbers and the telephone numbers to call in case of loss or theft. Having this information available will at least make an already traumatic experience easier to report.
• Take only one or two credit cards and a couple of check with you. If they are misplaced or stolen, you won't have lost "everything."
• Plan ahead. Make sure the interior lights in your vehicle are working properly.
• If you know you will return to your car after dark, park in a well-lighted area. Note your parking place by using permanent structures such as mall entrances or marked light poles. Mall parking lots change dramatically in appearance as vehicles come and go.
• If at all possible, women shouldn't carry a purse. Wear clothes that can accommodate the minimum necessities -- car keys, driver's license, credit cards, money and checks.
• If you must carry a purse, put your car keys in your pants or jacket pocket. That way, if your purse is stolen, you will still be able to drive home.
• If you feel uneasy returning to your vehicle alone, find a security guard who will walk you or at least watch you closely until you are safely in your vehicle.
• Have you car keys in your hand to avoid spending unnecessary time unprotected from the security of your vehicle.
• When returning to your vehicle, check around it, under it and in the back seat before entering.

"By taking these simple safety precautions," Sheriff Hathaway said, "your last-minute Christmas will go as smoothly as you can expect at this time of year. By staying on guard, you won't let some would-be criminal ruin your holiday season."

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