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Don't Let Thieves Rob You Of The Joy Of The Holidays

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2007

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It's called the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. It's the crazed five weeks beginning the day after Thanksgiving and ending on New Year's Day.

In our haste to get the best deals or to find those most sought-after items, we often neglect to protect the gifts we fought so hard to find.

We rush from party to party and store to store while the Grinch works overtime to steal our Christmas.

Burglars and other criminals are looking to take advantage of free gifts found in our homes and vehicles. Research conducted by Samuel Young, a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office crime analyst, shows that crime increases 20 percent during the holiday season.

But residents of Hillsborough County can fight the trend by following these tips:

• Avoid shopping alone.

• Park vehicles in well-lighted and populated parking lots.

• When leaving a store at night, ask a security guard for an escort to your vehicle.

•Have your keys in hand to quickly enter your vehicle.

• Once inside the vehicle, don't fumble around. Start the engine and vacate the area immediately.

•Never leave packages in the back seat unattended. Secure them in the trunk of the vehicle, away from the peeping eyes of opportunists.

• If someone confronts you and demands money or merchandise, give him what he wants. It's not the time to be a hero. Instead of fighting, focus on getting a good description of the suspect. Law enforcement will want to know the suspect's height, weight, clothing, facial features, vehicle and license plate number. Catching bad guys should be left to the police. You can replace lost items; you cannot replace your life.

•At home, keep the Christmas tree away from windows and glass doors where it can be easily seen from the roadway. A tree surrounded by presents is a neon sign to criminals. Consider placing gifts under the tree on Christmas Eve night. Close blinds and lock doors and windows before leaving home. Don't throw empty boxes in your trash; take them to a landfill or consider recycling them. The boxes tell people what gifts can be found inside.

• If you are taking a vacation, secure your possessions. Stopping your newspaper is not recommended because your name will be added to a list that may be available to strangers. Instead, tell a trusted neighbor or friend where you will be and how to reach you. Have that person pick up your mail and newspapers while you are gone. Use timers on your lights, and rotate the rooms that are lighted. Contact the sheriff's office to request a vacation watch.

The holidays can be a stressful time. Don't add pressure by being unprepared. Do your part to keep the Grinch in Whoville and out of your home.

Charity Arthur is a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office community resource deputy working in the northwest area of the county. If you have questions for her or suggestions for topics for her monthly crime-prevention column, she can be reached at (813) 26

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