JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Since it is Christmas Eve, a lot of people may be doing some last minute shopping to get the perfect gifts or things they may have forgotten about.
While in the rush, you want to keep yourself and your newly purchased items safe from people who might be looking to ruin your holiday experience.
This is not about being paranoid.
It is about having situational awareness and not making yourself vulnerable to people who are just waiting to see you slip up.
If you are out shopping, have a plan in place.
Try not to be distracted as you are walking from store to store, or be on your phone and not paying attention.
When walking to your car, make sure you know where your keys are and you are not scrambling to find anything.
On a day like this, consider shopping with someone else or in a group.
Try not to be alone and do not park in an isolated area. Try to be in well lit spots or near security cameras.
When you have your bags and are putting them in the car, try to hide them so they cannot be seen. Put them in a trunk or tuck them under a seat.
News4JAX spoke with our crime and safety analyst, Tom Hackney, during Jen Waugh’s 10 a.m. daily digital streaming show about this.
In Hackney’s more than 30-year career with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, he has seen unfortunate situations happen with cases of people being robbed in various scenarios around the holidays.
“On a thief’s mind, the very first thing on their mind is paying attention to what you are doing, and the fact that you may not be paying attention,” Hackney said. “Keep your keys in your hand. It’s like a distraction if your keys are in your pocket or in your purse. You need to have a plan in your head of when you are leaving. Know that you are going to have your hands full. Quickly get in the car, put your things away, get in there and lock the door. The second you get in the car, lock the doors. You do not want somebody to come up.”
Protecting yourself does not stop after you leave the stores.
While driving home, glance through your mirrors to make sure no one is following you.
It is all about having situational awareness and not assuming that nothing can happen to you. Trust your instincts.
As soon as they get home, people may need to make more than one trip to get all of their newly purchased items inside the house.
If you are not parked in an enclosed garage, close your car doors and trunk between trips.
Do not leave the car open with the remaining presents accessible, and do not leave a purse or wallet in the car.
When it is time to throw empty bags and boxes away, avoid putting them out on the curb in the open for everyone to see what was purchased and where.
Break down and tear up the boxes and bags, put them in a dark garbage bag or recycling bin. Then consider driving them to a recycling center.
“It does not take much to drive around the neighborhood and see if there is a Nintendo or a new TV,” Hackney said about people looking to steal. “Don’t advertise what you have gotten and don’t advertise that you are either not home or that you are vulnerable.”
If you are expected to get packages throughout the holiday season, know when they are scheduled to arrive, be there to get them ASAP, or designate someone to pick them up for you. Prevent them from being left alone outside your house for long periods of time.