As the days draw near to Christmas, last minute shopping and travel will be in the plans for many individuals. When it comes to holiday shopping, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to wear flashy jewelry.
The Levelland Police Department is reminding community members to practice safe methods when shopping inperson or online. LPD Captain Mateo Lopez emphasized several safety tips for shopping in-person which include: Keep in mind that thieves are going to be watching for shoppers with items of value. Gold jewelry and sparkling diamonds definitely stand out, even in crowded stores. Those types of luxury items are surprisingly easy to steal, especially for skill thieves who know what they’re doing.
As individuals deal with a busy schedule, it is easy to get in a rush and become distracted by wanting to get shopping done and get back to the car. This understandable, but individuals need to slow down and pay attention to what’s happening around them.
Take the time to study one’s surroundings. No matter the location, glance around, notice the other shoppers, or the other cars and pedestrians in the parking lot. Keep in mind that it only takes a few seconds for someone to approach and cause trouble.
Staying aware of one’s surroundings should not slow down the shopping experience. The key is to resist distraction and keep an eye on where one is at the moment, including the nearest exits, or a salesperson whom can be asked for assistance if necessary.
If individuals are going to carry cash for shopping, make it has hard for thieves to get to personal belongings as much as possible. Bad guys have quick hands, and they can steal from an individual in a flash. Keep cash in a front pocket where it will be hard to grab without one knowing.
Another tip regarding cash is, keep it to a minimum. Thieves love cash. It was emphasized they love to steal cash more than anything else. If there is an insistence on using cash for Christmas shopping, take as little as possible on each trip and keep in carefully concealed.
Shopping is fun, but try to resist getting carried away. Staggering from a store with one’s arms overloaded with bags and boxes quickly draws attention.
Don’t forget that bad guys are looking for stuff to steal. Once outside the store, fumbling with keys and trying to get the car door open essentially announces to the world that a shopper has just spent a large amount of money.
Make a conscious effort to purchase an item or two at a time and take them to the car. This way packages will be easier to carry, and will be far less likely to be assaulted or robbed.
Try to do most of the Christmas shopping during daylight hours. This might be possible for many people, but avoiding the mall parking lot at night will greatly decrease the odds of being approached by a thief.
If it is absolutely necessary to go shopping at night, park as close to the entrance as possible and try to leave the car in a well-lit parking spot to help keep bad guys away.
It’s never a wise idea to carry a purse around at the store. This makes individuals a target. Individuals are encouraged to leave the purse at home, carry a minimal amount of cash, and use credit cards for shopping instead.
Cpt. Lopez also emphasized being cyber safe as shopping online is another big topic. Shopping from reputable websites is encouraged along with being cautious for scams and having private information stolen.
Some cyber attackers may try to trick consumers by creating malicious websites that appear to be legitimate.
For unfamiliar retailers, review customer feedback and verify the legitimacy of contact information, such as a physical address and support number. Always verify the legitimacy before supplying your information.
Be wary of emails requesting personal information. Attackers may attempt to gather information by sending emails requesting that you confirm purchase or account information.
Legitimate businesses will not solicit this type of information through email. Do not provide sensitive information through email.
Beware of scams and suspicious deals. Offers that seem too good to be true often are. Verify all deals and confirm package tracking links directly from trusted retailer websites.
Use a credit card, not a debit card, if possible. There are laws to limit your liability for fraudulent credit card charges, but shoppers may not have the same level of protection for debit cards.
There are also options to use a reliable, established third-party payment service, such as Google Pay, Apple Pay or PayPal.
Remember to check one’s credit card and bank statements for fraudulent charges and immediately notify the bank or financial institution and local law enforcement if fraud is discovered.
Before picking out that perfect gift, be sure that all internet-connected devices including PCs, smartphones and tablets - are free from malware and infections by running only the most current versions of software, web browsers and other apps.
Use secure Wi-Fi. Using free public Wi-Fi to shop online while at favorite coffee shops is tremendously convenient, but it is not cyber safe.
Don’t make purchases while connected to public Wi-Fi; instead use a virtual private network (VPN) or your phone as a hotspot.
Online shoppers are encouraged to create long and unique passphrases for all accounts and use multi-factor authentication wherever possible. Multi-factor authentication will fortify online accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as biometrics or a unique one-timecode sent to your phone or mobile device.
Not only should individuals make sure their internet connection is secure but they should also check to make sure shopping is done on a site that uses SSL protection.
The easiest way to tell is to check the browser’s address bar. Look for https in the URL. Sites without the “s” are not safe to submit payment information or other personal details.
Cpt. Lopez also touched on being mindful of property at home including items left within a vehicle. Community members should ensure their vehicles and homes are secured at all times. This includes locking all doors and windows.
Leaving valuable items within a vehicle is never advised. Additionally, if a home is unoccupied it is encouraged to use some form of timers for lighting.
For those who expect packages while away from the property, it is advised to utilize delivery lockers, package tracking, schedule delivery times and customize delivery instructions to include hidden locations or to deliver to a trusted neighbor.
For those traveling, expect congested roadways. Law enforcement will be increased to monitor roadways across the state.
Drivers are encouraged to: Slow down, pay attention and obey traffic laws.
If tired while driving get tired, pull over in a safe spot and walk around to re-energize.
Don’t drink and drive. Designate a (sober) driver.
Stay off the phone which includes texting. Designate a “copilot” to oversee the phone while driving so operator can concentrate on the task at hand.
Buckle up, all occupants of the vehicle, every trip no matter how short. Most traffic crashes happen close to home.
If traveling by motorcycle, wear a helmet.
Stay weather-aware. If it’s snowy or icy, motorists need to slow down significantly to avoid sliding on unexpected icy spots. If it’s raining heavily, turn around and don’t drown if water is running across the road. Only two feet of rushing water can sweep away a vehicle.
Leave plenty of time to get to a destination. Roadways are likely to be crowded.
With heavy traffic on roads, the possibility for broken down vehicles increases.
If tow trucks and other emergency vehicles are stopped on the side of the road with their emergency lights activated, follow the rules.
Texas law requires drivers to slow down at least 20 miles per hour under the posted speed limit or, if able, to change lanes when they’re passing a first responder stopped on the roadside.