Evanston Police Offer Holiday Crime Prevention Tips

Evanston Police submitted the following press release offering tips for preventing crime during the holiday season.

Believe it or not, the Holiday Season is here, with all of its hustle and bustle; and with all the distractions and activity, we sometimes forget the basics for maintaining our safety on the streets and at home.

The stores are full of people with money to spend and as we speed along, focused on getting through our treasure hunt, a criminal can size up a potential victim. Busy shoppers can be targeted for purse snatching, pickpocketing, and other forms of street robberies. 

The Evanston Police Department wants everyone to be aware that thieves look forward to holidays as much as everyone else, and maybe more so. Opportunity is the criminal’s key to crime, therefore a primary factor in crime prevention is being aware of your surroundings and potential areas of danger - thereby closing the criminal's window of opportunity. Taking heed to the following crime prevention strategies can ensure a holiday season that is both happy and safe.

HOLIDAY CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES

• Keep your purse close to your body.
• If your pocketbook has long straps, shorten them.
• If possible, avoid carrying a large purse when shopping.  A fanny pack is compact and more difficult for a thief to grab and run.
• Do not carry a wallet in a back pocket. It should be placed in a front pocket of your pants for safety.
• Carry only the credit cards you intend to use, leave the others behind.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Use checks or check cards.
• Use ATMs wisely. Have the card ready before approaching the machine, and use one in a high traffic area.
• Shop with a friend, there is safety in numbers.
• Be aware of the environment. Don't walk or park in poorly lit areas. Don't take so-called shortcuts through secluded areas.
• Don't be distracted by a cell phone conversation or an audio-receiving device.
• Have car keys ready before leaving the office, store or mall.
• If you believe someone is following you, cross the street, switch directions, walk into a store or restaurant. If you are really scared, yell. Don't be embarrassed. Your safety is more important.
• EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT: By engraving them with an ID number or driver’s license number.(NEVER USE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER)

VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES

• If possible, park your car in an area of high pedestrian activity. Avoid remote areas.
• Do NOT leave valuables in open view in your car. Put them in the trunk, or take them along with you. This is the time of the year when thieves do their own form of “window shopping.”
• Lock your car and close the windows, even if you are only gone for a few minutes. Remember:
  • Loose change visible in a vehicle is a target; they will break your window for small change.
  • Your cell phone can be sold and reprogrammed and is a sought item of theft.
  • A laptop or tablet computer will be resold for money at your expense

THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT OF ALL IS TO HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON