How to avoid becoming a shopping victim this holiday season
NORWICH – The Norwich City Police Department wants people to be aware of safety precautions they can take this holiday season when out shopping.
“This holiday season should be a joyous one for everyone. There are however, some people who prey upon others this time of year. Theft, larceny identify theft and lost children are something police agencies are always alert for during the Christmas season,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
The chief said one of the most common places for items to be stolen was from a car in a parking lot, especially during the holiday season.
“This time of year, criminals know that vehicles are likely to be full of stuff and there will be people out this shopping season who will be checking for unlocked car doors, hoping to find something of value,” he said.
Police said area residents should be even more careful when traveling to a larger area such as a mall or if they intend to shop electronically online.
Angelino said thieves were interested in either property of value or a person’s private information.
The chief said locked doors are not always enough to stop a theft and he encourages people to place packages and items of worth out of sight in the trunk.
“Locked cars are a good start, but some perpetrators will smash a window to gain access to a $300 item that’s right in front of them,” said Angelino, referring to the GPS systems many cars have.
Safe Shopping Tips for those going to stores
• Have an extra set of car keys on your person.
• Shop with a friend.
• Do not carry a purse or wallet if possible.
• If you do carry a purse or wallet, keep it close. Do not lay it down even for a second. Thieves may be waiting for an opportunity and grab it from you.
• Carry cash in a front pants pocket.
• Try to make purchases with a check or credit card.
• Keep a record of all your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Notify credit card company immediately upon loss or theft of a card
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. Have your hands free and your vision unobstructed.
• Be aware of strangers approaching you for odd reasons. They may be trying to set up a distraction.
• Store packages out of sight in the trunk of your car. Always ensure your car is locked.
• Take electronic GPS travel aids off the windshield. Remember to take the suction mount off the windshield also. Store these out of sight, even in a locked car
• If shopping with children, teach them if they become lost to look for a person in uniform or a customer service desk.
• Don’t send young children to restrooms alone.
Safe shopping tips for on-line purchases
• Use one-time use only credit cards.
• Verify you are using a secure connection. Look for the “padlock” icon on your web browser.
• Have complex passwords using numbers and special characters (%&@#).
• Avoid ‘phishing’ e-mails that may direct you to a bogus web page.
• Never e-mail or instant message personal information or credit card numbers
• Save all on-line transactions.
• Check your credit card history often. Don’t wait for your month bill to find unauthorized purchases.
“This holiday season should be a joyous one for everyone. There are however, some people who prey upon others this time of year. Theft, larceny identify theft and lost children are something police agencies are always alert for during the Christmas season,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
The chief said one of the most common places for items to be stolen was from a car in a parking lot, especially during the holiday season.
“This time of year, criminals know that vehicles are likely to be full of stuff and there will be people out this shopping season who will be checking for unlocked car doors, hoping to find something of value,” he said.
Police said area residents should be even more careful when traveling to a larger area such as a mall or if they intend to shop electronically online.
Angelino said thieves were interested in either property of value or a person’s private information.
The chief said locked doors are not always enough to stop a theft and he encourages people to place packages and items of worth out of sight in the trunk.
“Locked cars are a good start, but some perpetrators will smash a window to gain access to a $300 item that’s right in front of them,” said Angelino, referring to the GPS systems many cars have.
Safe Shopping Tips for those going to stores
• Have an extra set of car keys on your person.
• Shop with a friend.
• Do not carry a purse or wallet if possible.
• If you do carry a purse or wallet, keep it close. Do not lay it down even for a second. Thieves may be waiting for an opportunity and grab it from you.
• Carry cash in a front pants pocket.
• Try to make purchases with a check or credit card.
• Keep a record of all your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Notify credit card company immediately upon loss or theft of a card
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. Have your hands free and your vision unobstructed.
• Be aware of strangers approaching you for odd reasons. They may be trying to set up a distraction.
• Store packages out of sight in the trunk of your car. Always ensure your car is locked.
• Take electronic GPS travel aids off the windshield. Remember to take the suction mount off the windshield also. Store these out of sight, even in a locked car
• If shopping with children, teach them if they become lost to look for a person in uniform or a customer service desk.
• Don’t send young children to restrooms alone.
Safe shopping tips for on-line purchases
• Use one-time use only credit cards.
• Verify you are using a secure connection. Look for the “padlock” icon on your web browser.
• Have complex passwords using numbers and special characters (%&@#).
• Avoid ‘phishing’ e-mails that may direct you to a bogus web page.
• Never e-mail or instant message personal information or credit card numbers
• Save all on-line transactions.
• Check your credit card history often. Don’t wait for your month bill to find unauthorized purchases.
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