Marin Sheriff's Office Offers Holiday Crime Prevention Tips

MARIN COUNTY, CA -- Sometimes in the holiday season, people become so distracted in the rush to buy gifts, decorate, and visit friends and travel that they tend to become careless and vulnerable to theft and other crimes around the holidays.

Bu the Marin County Sheriff's Office is taking the opportunity to share some safety tips so that you can keep from becoming a holiday crime victim. The following tips, police say, can help you be more careful, prepared and aware during the holiday season.

• Try to shop during the day, but if you do shop at night, do not do it alone.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.Recognize when you are rushed, distracted and stressed out, and stay alert to what is going on around you. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.
• Keep cash in your front pocket.
• If you discover that a credit card is missing, notify the credit card company as soon as possible. Don't assume that you misplaced it and will find it later.
• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion if you are approached.
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, con-artists may try various methods of distracting you, including working in teams, with the intention of taking your money or belongings.
• If you shop online, make sure you can be home for the deliveries or have a neighbor pickup your packages so they aren’t on your doorstep all day.
• If you travel, consider motion sensor lights and lights on a timer to give an appearance of being home.
• Don’t let mail build up in your mail box and don’t let newspapers collect on the driveway.

Most important, police say, is to be patient with people and careful while driving; it may take longer than normal to get to your destination.

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