Holiday Opportunities – If You’re a Thief!
- Store parking lots are full – find the cars that have shopping bags left in plain view and unlocked doors.
- Shoppers are engrossed in finding the right gift – Pick their pockets, or better yet, casually take a purse or wallet left in a shopping cart when the owner isn’t looking.
- Customers are forced to park a long distance from the store entrance – Snatch purses or shopping bags from unsuspecting shoppers as they walk through the lot.
- Shoppers carry large amounts of cash – A dark parking lot is a perfect place for a robbery.
- Shoppers carry multiple credit cards – Steal them (see methods above), and use immediately running up large charges at near-by stores.
How to Take Away Holiday Theft Opportunities:
- Put shopping bags in the trunk of your car or other location out of view.
- Keep purses and wallets on your person and with a hand or arm touching it at all times.
- Park as close to the store as possible and in a well-lit area; have your car’s key fob in your hand and ready to press the alarm button.
- Make eye contact with people as you walk buy, let them know you’re aware.
- Take one major credit card, keep it safely with you, and limit the amount of cash you carry. Be prepared to cancel a card if given notice that unauthorized charges have been made.