Roswell, N.M. — Many people will be enjoying Thanksgiving trips to see family and
friends in other areas of the state or country. Additional travels may come up again as
Christmas approaches soon after. Making plans to leave town should also include plans to
protect your home and belongings while you are gone.
Meanwhile, Thanksgiving weekend marks the first big shopping days of the season. That
unfortunately means there are also thieves out there doing their own shopping of sorts –
looking for the easiest targets from whom to steal items, information or identities.
But with the right precautions and awareness, people can protect themselves against
criminals who would threaten to rob local residents of more than their holiday cheer. The
Roswell Police Department reminds everyone:
When you go out of town for the holidays:
? Avoid telltale signs of an unoccupied house: Stop all regular deliveries, such as mail
that would collect in your mailbox and newspapers that would pile up outside, or have a
neighbor pick them up. If you have ordered a gift or other item online, do not have it
delivered to your house while you are gone. You don’t want it sitting on your doorstep for
an extended period. Leave some indoor lights on or put them on a timer. Wait until you
return home to post on social media any pictures from your out-of-town trip.
? Notify trusted neighbors that you will be gone and give them your contact
information. You can also contact the Roswell Police Department or your appropriate local
law-enforcement agency to request “close patrols” of your residence while you are gone.
? Protect your home against burglars anytime of the year by keeping your property
clean to eliminate hiding spots, installing an alarm system and lighting (motion-sensor
lights serve the purpose without having to be on constantly), keeping valuables (that
includes Christmas gifts) out of clear view so they cannot be seen from a window, and, of
course, locking your doors and windows.
–more–
When you head to and leave from stores:
? Park in an area with good lighting, and if possible, that is not too far from the store’s
entrance and exit you plan to use. Do not leave your purchased items or valuables in
plain sight in your vehicle. Remove them from the vehicle or lock them in the trunk. Do
not have personal, confidential documents or information in the car unnecessarily. Be
sure to lock your doors and ensure the windows are completely up and secure. Be sure
your vehicle’s interior lighting illuminates when you open the door.
? Go with another person or a group, especially if shopping at night. If you can, try to
schedule your shopping trips during daylight hours. Regardless of whether you are alone
or with others, always watch what is going on around you and remain constantly aware
of your surroundings. Report any suspicious activity.
? Carry your credit or debit cards on you directly instead of in a purse or separate bag.
Also, avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and keep any cash in your front pockets,
which are more difficult than back pockets for pickpockets to reach.
? Beware of strangers approaching you. Christmastime brings out con artists and
other criminals who have a wide variety of methods designed to distract you so they can
steal your money or other belongings. If you are threatened or assaulted by someone,
your keys can be used as a weapon. If you feel uneasy or threatened before heading back
to your vehicle, ask store security to escort you.
When in a store:
? Even though you may be concentrating on picking out the right gifts for family and
friends, pay attention to those around you. Always keep your children close to you. If
someone is acting suspiciously, report it to store personnel.
? During a credit-card or debit-card transaction, keep your eyes on your card if you
must hand it to the store clerk. Don’t forget to get it back. Make sure someone else isn’t
sneaking a peek at the keypad while you are entering your PIN during a transaction.
? Make sure anything you sign accurately reflects your purchase or anything you are
agreeing to.
When shopping or donating by phone or online:
? Do not give your account numbers or any other financial or personal information to
anyone on the phone unless you initiated the call and know the company/person you are
dealing with is reputable. When online, do not open emails from sources you do not
recognize. Even then, be aware that email scammers and identity thieves will often send
emails disguised as coming from well-recognized, reputable stores and companies, so
click with caution.
–more–
? When shopping online and creating online shopping accounts, make sure the site is
secure (secure sites will usually begin with “https”, with the “s” being the key). Also, create
strong passwords that use a good number of characters and include uppercase and
lowercase letters, as well as numbers and symbols.
? This time of year is a popular time for charities to make phone solicitations seeking
donations. Make sure you trust that the caller actually does represent the entity he or she
claims to represent. Consider taking an extra step of asking for a phone number to call the
headquarters of the charity or have them send you official printed donation information in
the mail. You can also look up the organization online and try contacting it through the
website information to confirm the group’s validity and the means it provides for making
donations.
The FBI offers additional advice regarding online shopping holiday scams: fbi.gov/scams-
and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/holiday-scams