With the holidays upon us, people will be looking to steal
your holiday spirit by stealing your holiday items. Below are some suggestions
to help protect you from becoming the victim of theft during this holiday
season.
At Home:
1)
Do not place gifts near the front window of your
residence. People should not be able to see gifts if they look in through your
front windows.
2)
Do not have items delivered to your home while
you will be away. Schedule deliveries for times you are home, or have
deliveries made to your place of work.
3)
Leave interior and exterior lights on when not
at home at night, and exterior lights on during the night when you are home.
4)
Make sure your alarm system is functioning
properly, and make sure to use your alarm system while away from your home.
5)
Consider installing security cameras. They are a
great deterrent to residential thievery.
6)
Make sure to lock all doors and secure all
windows in your vehicle prior to leaving it parked on your driveway or in the
street. Do not leave valuable items inside the passenger compartment.
7)
If you will be away, notify your neighbors so
they can look over your home, and stop your mail and newspaper delivery.
8)
Notify the Atherton Police Department so that
Vacation House Checks can be conducted during your time away.
9)
Do not let your whereabouts or vacation plans be
known on social media. This is an invitation to thieves to visit your home.
While Shopping:
1)
Park in well-lit areas and be aware of your
surroundings.
2)
Place items in your vehicle’s trunk, not in the
passenger compartment.
3)
Consider leaving the shopping area once you load
your vehicle’s trunk. Someone could be watching vehicles in the parking lot to
determine which ones have items to steal.
4)
The only thing people should see in the
passenger compartment of your vehicle are seats and floor mats. No purses,
wallets, phones, other electronics, or charging cables. These items are
invitations to thieves.
5)
Make sure to lock all doors and secure all
windows prior to leaving your vehicle in a parking lot.
The Atherton Police Department wishes everyone a safe, happy
and healthy holiday season!