The San Diego County Sherriff’s office offers safety tips as one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year arrives, especially for those who are distracted or alone.
According to the Sheriff’s office, deputies will be patrolling busy shopping centers in neighborhoods within the department’s areas of jurisdiction.
“Criminals don’t take the holidays off. Instead, they often find more opportunities to victimize people, especially those who are distracted or alone,” said the San Diego County Sheriff’s office.
To help shoppers protect themselves from crooks, sheriff’s officials provided the following tips for the holiday season and throughout the year:
- Shop during the day when possible and shop with a friend.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Don’t overload your arms with packages and bags while shopping.
- Park in a well-lit area.
- Have your keys out and ready when approaching your car.
- Be aware of how you carry your purse or wallet. Don’t make it easy for someone to grab.
- When parking, lock your car doors and take valuables with you.
- If you absolutely must drop purchases off at your car and continue shopping, consider moving your car to another parking spot in case there are criminal spotters who might have seen you loading up your car with bags. This extra step could make a criminal think you are leaving.
If you see a crime in progress, always call 9-1-1. To report suspicious activity, call the Sheriff’s Department non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.
