Are You Planning To Shop in Manchester On Black Friday? Read These Safety Tips

It can happen in the blink of an eye. You turn your back on your shopping cart, where your purse sits, to take a closer look at something, and when you turn back, it’s gone.

Thefts of purses and wallets in shopping areas during the holiday season increase because these crimes are popular among identity thieves, who target credit cards, personal checks, and identification. Purses or wallets are typically taken from the victim’s carts as they are momentarily distracted while shopping, or while placing purchases in their vehicles.

The thieves then attempt to make purchases with the stolen credit cards and checks before a victim has a chance to notify financial institutions or law enforcement.

The other common theft this time of year is that of valuables taken from vehicles, typically a crime of opportunity as those victimized, in many cases, have left their vehicle unlocked.

There are ways to protect yourself during the holidays. Law enforcement recommends the following precautions:

• Never leave purses, wallets or valuables unattended while shopping.

• Always lock your vehicle.

• Do not carry unnecessary identification, credit cards, or Social Security cards with you. Keep these at home in a safe place.

• For cards that you must carry with you, record information such as financial institution name and contact information, card number, etc. and keep it at home in a safe place.

• While shopping, do not place your purse or wallet in your cart. Carry it where you have constant control of it or carry just a wallet on your person and leave your purse at home or in your vehicle out view from others.

• When you are in the parking lot, do not place your purse in an open trunk of your car while loading purchases as thieves sometimes monitor parking lots for this type of opportunity.

• Do not leave any valuable items in plain view in your vehicle.

• Stay alert to any suspicious people you see in shopping and parking areas. Many victims report that they saw the suspects lurking around them before a purse or wallet was stolen. Sometimes thieves work in pairs and one will distract the victim by engaging in conversation with them while the other steals the wallet or purse.

• Report any suspicious individuals to employees or to the police department immediately.

• If your purse or wallet is stolen, notify the police immediately; do not wait until you get home. Try to obtain a description of the suspect or suspect vehicle.

• Never confront or pursue a suspect, as this could be dangerous.

• As soon as possible after a theft, notify any applicable credit card companies, banks or other institutions.