With the Christmas holidays rapidly approaching, shopping
for gifts for loved ones will take up much of our time, be it in the mall or
online.
While online shopping has grown over the past few years, there
are still many of us who need to go to the mall to pick up something special
for a family member or a good friend. Here are some tips to prevent being
victimized by theft,
·
Be aware of your surroundings as you shop.
·
Pay with a credit or debit card, do not display
large amounts of cash.
·
Women should keep their purses close to their
bodies, not in shopping carts. And always keep your purse with you.
·
Some police recommend only taking your wallet
with you. For men or women, if you have your wallet, put it in a front pocket
of your pants to discourage pick pockets.
·
If you do need to withdraw some cash at an ATM, do
it inside a mall, grocery store or bank. Check the ATM for anything loose that
could be a card skimmer placed by a scammer. Shield the keyboard from anyone
who might be standing nearby or a hidden camera.
Car prowlers often look for vehicles that they can break
into to steal the contents. The holidays are a prime time for this type of
activity,
·
Park in a well-lighted area, close to the mall
entrance if you can, where many people can observe your car.
·
Do not leave anything visible in your vehicle. If
you need to leave anything in it, place it in the trunk or console before you
arrive.
·
If you need to take packages from the mall to
your vehicle, place them in the trunk and consider moving your vehicle to
another part of the parking garage or lot. Thieves have been known to watch for
customers placing packages in their cars.
Getting into the habit of taking these precautions should help
you avoid some bad surprises.
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:
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