St. Clair Shores Police Offer Holiday Safety Tips

As families cleanup and recall the joy of Christmas morning, and prepare for additional gatherings of friends and family, St. Clair Shores community resource officer Cherie Mascarello offers tips on how to safe.

While shopping:

• Before even leaving the house write down the credit card information of the cards you will be using while shopping. Copy down the account and phone numbers so you can report them if they become lost or stolen. Leave this list at home.
• Dress comfortable and casual.
• You want to avoid bringing attention to yourself, don’t wear expensive jewelry or carry a large sum of cash.
• Keep your money, credit cards and wallet in your front pockets.
• Leave your purse at home and just bring what you need. It’s one less thing you have to worry about. If you do bring it don’t put it a shopping cart and turn your back in any way.

When you get into the mall or store

• Park as close to the door entrance as possible, in a well lit, well traveled area. It may be light when you go in but it could be dark when you return.
• Make sure to lock your car doors.
• If you return to your car to unload some packages to continue shopping, put the packages in the trunk or cover them with a blanket, don’t leave them in plain view.
• When walking to and from your vehicle, pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t be distracted talking on your cell phone.
• Have your keys ready in your hand, ready to push the panic button if needed.
• Save the largest and or most expensive package for last use package pick up whenever possible.
• If something doesn’t look or feel right when you go to your vehicle go back into the mall and ask if someone can walk out with you.
• Consolidate bags as you’re shopping: bring a large heavy weight bag if possible to keep all the smaller bags together, less to keep track of.
• Don’t set packages down while you shop, sometimes people walk away and forget to pick them up or someone takes them while you’re distracted.
• If you are shopping with children, accompany them to the rest rooms.
• Don’t leave children in toy stores or arcades as babysitters. A lot of abductions happen this way.
• Keep your children close to you and within eyesight. Don’t let them wander too far away from you.

At home

• First and foremost, keep your doors and windows locked at all times.
• Keep your porch light on at night.
• Don’t tell people you are going out of town for the holidays unless it is a
  trusted neighbor or family member and you want them to keep and eye on
  your home.
• If you leave keep some of your lights on timers to go on at different times and different rooms.
• After Christmas it is a good idea to break up boxes of expensive gifts when your putting them out to the curb.
• Don’t advertise what you have in your home.