Shop-til-you-drop is the new mantra for a lot of people, but buyer beware!
“Ken Grossman, crime prevention specialist with the Xavier University Police Department, has created a list of holiday safety tips as a means of reminding and helping members of the community remain safe during the holidays,” says a press release from Xavier.
• Don’t be overburdened with packages. Carrying several shopping bags makes you vulnerable.
(Going back to the car to drop purchases in the trunk and be a pain, but look at it as additional exercise and an insurance policy for seeing people open those gifts you picked out – don’t forget to set your car alarm.)
• Shop with others. If there are three or more people together, the chance of being targeted for crime is 90 percent less than when alone.
(The stress of finding parking and waiting in line is a lot easier to deal with when you’re able to enjoy the company of friends, not strangers, in the midst of all the hassle.)
• ATM robberies often occur after the patron has completed their transaction. Always have your head up and be aware of your surroundings when you leave an ATM.
(Only go to well-lit ATM locations, go with an ATM buddy or, better yet, use an ATM during banking hours when there security guards are standing by.)
• Avoid leaving boxes from purchases (especially TVs, VCRs, computer, etc.) out on the curb for trash pickup.
(Take advantage of community recycling drop centers – you can recycle cardboard and other materials removing tell-tale signs of expensive gifts in the house and get rid of old computers and related paraphernalia via the computer recycling program offered by Hamilton County.)
More tips can be found at the school’s Web site, too.
