Holiday Safety Tips Series: Taking Your "Sleigh" Shopping

by Sgt. Jennifer S. Ross

The next topic in our Holiday Safety Series addresses the predicament we find ourselves in after we have made the purchases, getting back to the car and taking everything home.  Even after visiting all of the great shops in Decatur as I try to make some headway on the list while shopping local, I somehow always end up having to go to the mall or big-box store at some point.

The parking lots are a mess and I often end up looking for my car and worrying about the things I have purchased getting stolen when I “make that last stop” on the way home.  Whether you have driven to the mall or the Decatur Square, having goods in the car can make you an attractive target because as you drive around seeking to buy what you are looking for, criminals drive around looking to take what you have already purchased.

Don’t let a would-be thief ruin your holiday cheer so easily.  Thieves are looking for quick and easy, so throw up a few more roadblocks. Remember to make safety a habit and not a headache! 

Taking Your “Sleigh” Shopping:

1. Park your car in a well-lit area and keep track of where it's parked. This will get you in your car and on your way faster.
2. Park in well-trafficked areas and avoid secluded and dark areas, as confrontations won’t be seen and yells for help won’t be heard.
3. Hide packages from view to prevent a break-in.  Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home or ask for them to be delivered.
4. If you return to your vehicle to unload shopping bags, move your vehicle to another space.
5. When placing electronic items in your car out of view such as iPods, cell phones and GPS systems, remember to also put chargers, cords and cradles out of view since would-be thieves look for these items as signs that what they are looking for may be in your car.