Reducing the chance of Christmas Crime

Christmas Shopping

• Make sure your card isn’t a gift for pickpockets. When the shops are crowded they have more chance to steal from you.
• Keep your purse or wallet close to your body and never in your back pocket or the top of a handbag
• Try to pay using a debit card rather than carrying lots of cash
• Always keep your pin number secret and be aware who is around when you are withdrawing cash from a machine
• Never leave credit or debit receipts lying around – some of them carry your card details
• Keep cheque books and cheque cards separate and never write down your pin number
• Always use a secure and well lit car park and never leave shopping bags on display in your car

Personal Safety

Try to plan your evening in advance

• Get your cash out of the ATM during daylight hours
• Make arrangements to get home safely – check timetables or programme the number of a reputable taxi firm in to your phone
• Use available public transport or pre book a taxi rather than walking home
• Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you will be back

Look after yourself and your belongings

• Never leave coats or bags on chair backs where sneak thieves can get them
• Don’t accept drinks from strangers or leave yours unattended
• Keep your wits about you – too much alcohol makes you vulnerable
• Stick with your friends and don’t walk home alone
• Never take short cuts late at night, stick to well lit main routes

Don’t drink too much

• If you are clearly drunk you may attract the attention of an opportunist thief
• Look after friends if they’ve had too much to drink make sure they get home safely

If you are using your mobile at night

• Be aware who is around you
• Set it to vibrate rather than a loud ring tone to attract peoples attention
• Don’t walk and text, you are likely to be distracted and you are giving a potential thief a chance to see what type of phone you have

Home Security

• Leaving presents under the tree in full view from outside can attract the attention of thieves – keep them out of sight until Christmas day
• If you store larger items such as bikes in a shed or outer building make sure they are secure
• Once you’ve opened all your gifts, don’t leave the boxes on view outside to advertise your good fortune to criminals
• Leave a light and radio on a timer if you are going away for Christmas or having a night out
• As a fire precaution don’t leave Christmas lights on whilst you are out
• If you go away for Christmas, cancel your milk and newspaper deliveries
• Lock all outside doors and windows, and if you have a burglar alarm make sure it is in full working order and set before you go away
• Neighbours may be able to help you by collecting post, opening and closing curtains and they could occasionally park their car on car on your drive
• Genuine delivery personnel usually have uniforms and liveried vehicles and should not need to come into your home. Charity collectors will have identification and will not be offended if you ask to see it

Autocrime

If you are taking your car on a Christmas shopping trip

• Use well lit, secure car parks
• Don’t leave anything in your car, remove everything of value before you go shopping – including sat nav’s and car stereo’s
• Security mark your sat nav with property coding devices or ultra violet markers and Register your sat nav with www.immobilise.com . This will help to reunite you with them if they are stolen
• Keep a record of your sat nav equipment serial numbers
• Open the parcel shelf and glove box to show there is nothing of value left in the vehicle
• Don’t return to your car to leave purchases in the boot before continuing with your shopping as thieves may watch car parks
• When at home keep your car keys hidden and away from doors, windows and letterboxes