By Joshua Dieker
District Representative

As the holidays approach and many of us race around to find the perfect gifts for our friends and families, it’s important to take a few safety precautions to ensure that our season stays joyous. The number of busy people rushing around from store to store creates a unique opportunity for those who would take advantage of the natural sense of security most of us have when we are out and about.

Security experts suggest that, rather than carry a purse, women should consider simply carrying a wallet. Men and women alike are encouraged to carry their wallets in a front pocket, as well. Of course, if your wallet is lost or stolen, you should call your credit card companies and bank to cancel your cards as quickly as possible, this will help ensure that you are protected from having to cover the cost of any fraudulent charges that are made in your name.

Extra care should also be used at the ATM. Stand close to the machine to block a would-be thief’s view of your transaction. Also, put cash directly into your wallet; don’t count it at the machine. Of course, also be aware of your surroundings at the ATM. If someone nearby is acting suspiciously, it might be wise to go on to another machine.

Many cars are broken into during the holiday season. If you have to keep packages in your car while you are shopping, put them in the trunk so that they are out of sight. If potential thieves don’t see anything tempting in your car, they are much more likely to move on and leave it alone.

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has produced a toolkit to help address public safety issues that are prevalent during the holiday shopping season. The COPS Holiday Safety Toolkit contains resources that focus on the crimes typically seen during the holiday season and provides initiatives that law enforcement, communities, shoppers, and retail businesses can take to help prevent becoming a victim of crime.

This toolkit includes specific guides on how to prevent burglary, credit and check card fraud, identity theft, drunk driving, robbery at ATMs, shoplifting, as well as thefts from cars in parking facilities.

Each guide in the toolkit addresses the specific problem, identifies questions that can assist police departments in analyzing their local problem, and reviews responses to the problem and what is known from evaluative research and police practice. You may download this toolkit from the COPS website http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=1638.

By simply taking a few precautions to ensure your safety, you can help make sure that the holidays are joyful for your whole family.