The Christmas shopping season has come again, providing an exciting and fun time for shoppers and business owners alike. As stores fill with heavier traffic, however, everyone should pay attention to the opportunities that the season can provide for crime no matter how busy they become. The Hartsville Police Department would like to offer these safety tips to help everyone have an enjoyable holiday season.
For both shoppers and businesses, awareness of one’s surroundings plays an important role in remaining safe. For shoppers, this involves taking note of those around you, especially during those times where purchases, wallets and purses provide a more tempting target, such as walking through a parking lot, carrying items to your car as well as loading and unloading them.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and carrying too many packages at once. Busy schedules and extended business hours mean that many shopping trips take place after dark, but consider making your trips during daylight hours, or at least be sure to park in well-lit areas at night. Avoid going alone when possible, as groups of people in well-lit areas are less attractive targets for theft. Additionally, donation scams are known to surface at Christmas alongside legitimate charitable organizations, so make sure you are familiar with the groups you give to, and be alert for any which seem questionable. Don’t hesitate to call 911 if you are faced with theft or suspicious activity.
Vehicles and homes are more likely to contain valuable new purchases, especially easily carried electronics, at Christmas, so be mindful of ways in which their presence may be noticeable. Keep purchases in the trunk of your car, and keep them out of sight of windows at home as well. After the holidays, make sure that the packaging isn’t placed in an easily seen spot for trash pickup, but is instead cut down so that it fits inside a recycling bin or roll cart.
Businesses can take precautions similar to those of customers, as they too can use the safety of numbers and well-lit areas. Avoid having employees close a store alone when possible, and be sure to turn your lights on as well as any alarm systems at night. Consider keeping window decorations at a level which allows those outside to still see if problems are occurring inside the store, and which also allows those inside the store to see anyone outside as well. Pay attention to anyone hanging around a store at closing time or taking part in any suspicious activity. Consider making bank deposits during daylight hours, and on an irregular schedule. If you do feel you need an escort to your vehicle, call the non-emergency dispatch number, 843.398.4920.
“The holidays are a time when no one wants to be thinking about crime, but you can’t be too careful, prepared or aware,” Police Chief James Hudson said. “We will be on alert and on patrol, ready to help wherever problems may arise. We hope that those who need us will call us, and that everyone in Hartsville will have a joyous and safe Christmas.”