Richmond Police share tips on holiday safety
on December 23, 2010
It may seem like common sense advice, but Sgt. Bisa French of the Richmond Police Department said it’s common sense mistakes that often lead to the spike in crime over the holidays.
“Around the holiday we see a lot of car burglaries and theft from people’s homes,” French said.
French said criminals are on high alert for Christmas shoppers who make the mistake of leaving gifts in their car or parking in dark areas.
“Criminals know people have brand-new items and they are going to try and take them,” she said.
It is that simple, she reiterated.
What the police can do is put out as many patrol officers as possible to offset the rise in crime and French said that is routine.
Both Hilltop Mall and The Richmond Police Department will increase patrol, she said.
There will be extra police officers and security to watch for people who intend “to cause problems,” French said.
Below, French offers her top five tips on how to keep your home and presents safe during the season.
TIPS:
If Christmas tree is visible through a window or screen door, do not display presents around it.
Do not leave shopping bags in plain view in your vehicle and do not store gifts in car truck for an extended period of time.
Do park in well-lit areas of shopping complexes.
Constantly be aware of your surroundings, criminals are prone to rob people that are pre-occupied when leaving a store.
Do not leave large packages from electronic purchases visible outside of the home.
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