Crime & Safety

Don't Be a Crime Victim This Holiday Season

Gwinnett Police Department Issues Holiday Safety Tips for Shoppers.

 

With the holiday shopping period officially here, The Gwinnett County Police Department issued safety tips to help everyone enjoy the holiday season. Please take these tips into account during this festive season.
 

  • Park your vehicle in a populated well lit area and secure your vehicle when you shop or dine.
  • Store packages in your trunk or rear compartment. Cover or conceal any packages that are in view of people walking by.
  • Observe your surroundings. Report any suspicious or loitering people to the authorities.
  • Take advantage of any retailers who have employees that assist shoppers to their vehicles with merchandise.
  • Shop with friends and/or family. You are less likely to become a victim if paired with others.
  • Don’t carry a large amount of cash and try to use secure forms of payment when purchasing items.
  • Have merchandise delivered to a secure location when possible. This can help reduce the amount of thefts from vehicles when left unattended.
  • When possible, use a cell phone to take a picture of the serial number off the box of any high dollar items before you leave the store. That way it can be readily furnished to the police if stolen.
  • Secure your home when you leave. Designate someone of trust to help maintain the security of your home by removing newspapers from the driveway, retrieving your mail and periodically checking the interior if you will be away for an extended period of time.
  • Don’t announce on answering machines or on social networking websites that you will be traveling away from home.
  • Be aware of any strangers that approach you. It may be a con artist attempting to take advantage of you.
  • Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Call for a taxi or take public transportation. Have a designated driver.

Do not become a victim! The Gwinnett County Police Department will be out in force making every attempt to ensure this doesn't happen to you.

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