Blytheville assistant police chief Ricky Jefferson offered the following tips when Christmas shopping.
1. Do your shopping during the daylight hours if possible. If you must shop at night, park in a well-lighted area, take a friend or relative with you.
2. Keep your car doors locked and windows rolled up while in and out of your vehicle.
3. When approaching or leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings and suspicious persons that may be in the area. Scan the interior quickly before getting in your vehicle. Get in your vehicle quickly and lock the doors. Do not approach your vehicle alone, if there are suspicious persons in the area.
4. When approaching your vehicle, have your keys in hand and ready to use.
5. Try not to carry a purse, if you have cash keep it in your front pocket.
6. If you are carrying a purse, shoulder strapped types are the best. Hold your purse and packages securely. One hand should be free so you don’t have to put packages down to open your door.
7. Do not leave packages or any other valuables in plain sight in your vehicle. This creates temptation for thieves. If you must leave items in your vehicle, lock them in the trunk or hide small items under the seat.
8. Never leave your vehicle unoccupied with the engine running or children inside.
9. When you park your vehicle on a parking lot, take notice of where you parked.
10. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
11. Take a minimal amount of cash and credit cards when you shop.
12. Carry a whistle or other noise making device, when walking to and from your vehicle.
13. Do not leave your purse unattended in a shopping cart while shopping.
14. Only use well-lighted ATM locations and when you do be aware of your surroundings. Collect your cash and pocket it quickly and get back in your vehicle.
15. If you shop with children, teach them to stay close to you, teach them to seek the help of a clerk or security guard, if separated.
16. Never allow young children to go to the vehicle by themselves.
17. Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
18. Notify your credit card company, if your card is lost, misused or stolen.
19. Never use your credit card on untrusted computer sites, create passwords that are hard to guess. A good password will contain numbers, letters and symbols.
20. Be aware of “ con-artists” that may approach you and try to trick you out of your money. Remember if it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably not.