Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Think safety during holidays

As the holiday season approaches, safety should be a primary concern.

Each year, holidays are ruined because of theft and robbery, among other crimes committed. Therefore, it makes sense to take steps to avoid being the victim of a crime.

The most important aspect in avoiding being a victim is pay attention and use common sense.

For women, carrying a purse loosely or on the shoulder may be easier than keeping it in the hands, but this is what criminals count on. A purse slipped over a shoulder is easy to grab and run with.

But, by carrying the purse upside down and unlatched purse snatchers will be less likely to try and steal them. This is because the purse would open and spill its contents to the ground.

It's a lot easier to pick the items up than replace them later.

Don't park in secluded or dark areas when shopping. Park as close to the business as possible, or at least in a well-lighted area of the parking lot.

When paying for purchases, don't bring out large amounts of cash where it can be seen. This is an open invitation to a thief.

All purchases should be placed out of sight, preferably in the truck of a car so thieves can't see or get to them.

Also, before getting in the car, check the floorboards of the front and back seat to make sure no one is hiding there. If anything looks out of place or unusual, return to the store and call the police.

Don't go shopping alone. This, too, is an invitation to criminals. Instead, make the trip an outing with friends. The more the merrier, as it's said.

While it's a wonderful sentiment to share a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with the neighborhood, this is also a good way to have gifts stolen from a home.

Instead of placing the tree directly in front of a window, put it to the side and keep the drapes closed. By doing this, thieves can't break out a window, reach in and grab the gifts closest to them.

Another good idea is to make sure the outside of the house is well lighted. Burglars hate noise and light.

Shrubbery should be trimmed to a point where it offers no protection to a possible burglar.

Holidays are also a time of travel, which means leaving homes unattended.

The purchase of timers can make it look like someone is still in the house, as they can be set to turn different lights and items on and off.

If possible, get a trusted neighbor to move the garbage can to the curb on trash day.

In addition, don't forget to notify the post office to hold all mail, and stop all deliveries of newspapers when going out of town.

When at home, don't open doors to strangers, even if they claim to be making a delivery. Ask them for identification and look for a delivery vehicle.

If there is no vehicle and the person refuses to produce identification, call the police.

While there is no foolproof method of avoiding becoming a crime victim, by following these tips, the chances of becoming a victim are lessened.