Holiday shopping safety tips

Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

When it comes to Christmas shopping, the last thing on shopper’s minds is having their presents stolen or being robbed.

Weatherford Police Lt. Chris Crawford said the number one crime law enforcement officials see during holidays is vehicle thefts.

The crime can easily be prevented.

Crawford said if shoppers simply lock their doors, would-be thieves usually go to the next car.

“People go into grocery, convenience and retail stores and leave their doors unlocked and leave computers, purses, iPods and Christmas gifts in their vehicles,” Crawford said. “Criminals are going to take the easiest path to their crime. When they walk through a parking lot they see many doors and check them all until they see one that’s open.”

Other shopping tips offered by police are to shop with a friend during daylight hours, park in well lit areas and ask for an escort by store security.

“Be aware of your surroundings,” Crawford said. “Don’t overload yourself. Always keep hands free. Don’t have your hands tied up with gifts and kids to deter you from taking defensive actions.”

Weatherford Police are taking their own actions to deter crime. Officials have beefed up security in local shopping areas.

Patrol Lt. Ronnie Villarreal said the main purpose of their mobile command unit is like a mobile office. It’s a place for officers to write a report, get out of the weather or take a break. Shoppers are welcome to drop by the mobile command, which is set up in various store parking lots, to ask questions.

Villarreal said the department will also have a foot patrol in the business districts.

“To address our holiday season, additional officers will be working different shopping districts in plain clothes and in patrol cars, looking to make sure citizens have a safe shopping experience,” Villarreal said. “Officers will be looking for burglary of vehicles, shop lifters, and they are there for parking lot safety.”

The patrol unit is strictly a police initiative. Every holiday season officials beef up patrol for shoplifters and vehicle burglaries.

Villarreal suggests locking purchased gifts in car trunks and keeping them out of plain sight.

He said the most reported stolen items are Tom-Tom GPS systems, radar detectors, digital cameras, lap tops or anything electronic.

Villarreal also advises “Please be aware for your surroundings and always know where you’re going.”

For more safety shopping tips, log onto www.weatherfordtx.gov/police.