Holiday crime season has begun, police say
The Conway Police Department is urging shoppers to keep an eye out during what is, effectively, the start of the 2008 holiday theft season.
Lt. Danny Moody of CPD said that when criminals see a shopping center full to capacity, they see "more targets of opportunity."
Liberty Parks
Conway Police officer Steve Bemies provided extra security to holiday shoppers Friday at Conway Commons. Bemies was working as part of the city council's 'Shop Secure' program.
"More people are shopping and they're caught up in the moment and they've let their guard down as far as personal awareness and they become easier victims," Moody said.
The Conway Police Department has issued the following tips for shoppers:
1. When shopping do not leave valuables such as gifts, purses, wallets, or electronics in your vehicle where a potential thief can spot them. This is temptation to a criminal and may prompt a criminal to take the added chance of breaking into your car if he or she thinks that the reward may out weight the risk.
2. Put valuables in the trunk of your car where they are out of sight.
3. Always lock your vehicle even if you think that you are just going to be away from it for a few minutes; regardless where it is parked. It only takes seconds for a thief to open your door, grab something of value, and walk away as if nothing ever happened.
4. Be mindful of your wallet or pocket book while shopping. Pick pockets take full advantage of crowds in order to get in close and lift your wallet or your pocket book. Keep these items close at hand and be suspicious of bumps from other shoppers.
5. Do not leave purses unattended in a shopping cart even if you are close by. Every year shoppers have their purses stolen while they are just feet away from their shopping cart because their attention is elsewhere. It just takes a second for a thief to pick it up and walk away.
6. When paying for your purchases do not flash large quantities of cash at the register. If at all possible keep large bills or large quantities of bills hidden from sight. You do not want to make yourself a target for a thief once you leave the store and enter the parking lot.
7. Be aware of your surroundings and always try to park in a well lit area as close to the shopping area as possible. Given the crowds this is not always possible, but even if you have to drive around for a while to wait for a spot to open up this will help ensure that if something does happen you will be in the best possible position to see it coming or call for help.
8. If you are the victim of a crime do not try to be a hero. Nothing you own is worth risking your safety or the safety of those with you. Be the best possible witness you can for the police. Try to get a physical description, clothing description, vehicle description, and if possible the vehicle license plate number of any vehicles involved. Try and determine the direction of travel that the suspect(s) were last seen going and the amount of time that has lapsed since the incident. All of this information will be used by the responding officers to try and catch the suspect(s).
9. When approaching your car keep your keys and cell phone handy. If you have packages or bags try and avoid carrying these items in your strong hand. Your keys should be in your strong hand as you approach your car so that you can get into your car as quickly as possible.
10. Once you get into your car keep your doors locked and windows up at all times. This will help to prevent someone from pulling you or your packages from your vehicle before you begin to drive away.
Keeping home safe
Residential burglary also increases during the holiday season. Moody said one of the best things for citizens to do is know their neighbors and their schedules.
"You need to know who's supposed to be at their residence and who's not. 'Neighbors being neighbors' is what I call it," he said.
"If you see something suspicious, call us immediately and let us check on it instead of thinking about it for a few days and then calling us," he added. "Let us know about it and we'll be the ones to decide if it's suspicious."
The following CPD tips to make a home less inviting to burglars have also been released:
1. During the holidays residential burglars are relying on the fact that Christmas presents are going to be in your homes and most likely under the Christmas tree. These people are opportunistic and will not think twice about pulling into a driveway, ringing your door bell, and then when no one answers kicking in your door and grabbing what they can before leaving. The police can't be everywhere so if you can be our eyes and ears we can go a long way towards reducing or eliminating some of this behavior.
2. If you plan on going out of town let a trusted neighbors know how long you plan on being gone and who if anyone should be stopping by your home. Ask them to call the police if anyone other than these few people will be coming by your home in your absence. It is our job to check out suspicious activity and we would rather check out these persons now than try and find them after something has happened at your home.
3. If you are going out of town make arrangements to have your mail delivery stopped and any newspapers stopped for the duration of your trip. An overflowing mailbox or newspapers lying in the driveway are sure signs to a criminal that no one is at home.
4. Most residential burglaries occur during the daytime hours because criminals know that most people are at work during the day and not at home. For the most part people that break into homes are non-confrontational. They don't want to be caught or identified. With this in mind, take a proactive response by trying to keep an eye on your neighborhood. If a person or vehicle is seen in your neighborhood that does not belong there call the police and report it.
5. Keep your doors and windows secure at your home even when you are at home. This will prevent a would-be criminal from walking into your home and taking anything they desire. Always keep your vehicle doors locked and valuables out of sight. Remove your keys and lock those car doors. Take purses, wallets and other valuables inside. Never leave your garage door open unless you are standing in your garage. If you go away from the garage; close the garage door.
6. If you witness a criminal act or suspect that a criminal act has occurred, call the police immediately. Don't wait to check with your neighbors to see if they want to call the police or not.
7. Do not intervene; just be the best possible witness that you can.
8. If you can call and stay on the line until officers arrive so that you can relay updated information to the responding officers that will assist in getting the officers to the suspect in as timely a manner as possible. Relay information such as the number of suspects, physical description, clothing description, vehicle description, and if possible the vehicle license plate number of any vehicles involved. Try and determine the direction of travel that the suspect(s) were last seen going and the amount of time that has lapsed since the incident. All of this information will be used by the responding officers to try and catch the suspect(s).
9. Consider setting televisions or radios on timers so that it appears that someone is at home at varying times. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Turn the volume up on your TV or radio so it can slightly be heard from outside your house.
10. Finally, assess your home for vulnerable spots such as areas concealed by large trees or bushes that a criminal might use to conceal his or her entry. Look at your home from a criminal's point of view and ask yourself the question "If I wanted to break into this house, how would I do it?" Then go to work trying to burglar proof your home. You may not be able to completely secure your home so that no criminal, no matter how ingenious he or she may be, can enter your home, but you might be able to make the bad guy go somewhere else.
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)