Christmas shopping safety tips to prepare you for the Holiday season.

Criminals love Christmas. It’s a pretty lucrative season for them. While we’re enjoying the most wonderful time of the year, they’re busy looking for easy marks to target.

Take your car keys out of your purse before you leave the store.

People who want to rob you or do you harm need you to be distracted so that you can’t see them coming.

They target women who are distracted by digging around in their purse for their keys.

Don’t text when you’re walking to and from your car.

In the same way that hunting for your keys takes your eyes off your surroundings, texting is a signal that you’re an easy mark.

Put the packages in the trunk of the car.

Leaving your bags and packages in your car rather than your trunk is a mistake the bad guys hope you make.

It’s sort of like hanging a sign on your car that reads, “Please break the glass and help yourself.”

Don’t shop alone at night.

It’s best to have someone with you when you’re shopping in the evening.

If you must shop alone at night, park as close to the store as you can, and park in a well-lit area.

 

Try not to use the ATM.

ATMs are to criminals what candy shops are to kids. In most cases, it’s easy for them to walk up to you or to your car and force you to hand over your money.

If you absolutely must have cash, go to the drive-thru teller at your bank