Lyn Knoll Neighboorhood Association

Safety Tips

Being Safe During the Holiday Season

Recently several vehicles were broken into while parked in the parking lot of a shopping center. Most of the items taken were women's purses and other valuable items. Now that the holiday shopping season has kicked off in full gear, I thought I would take this opportunity to remind everyone about securing their vehicles.

Please do not leave anything of value, i.e. purses, purchased holiday gifts, briefcases, stereo equipment, etc in the passenger compartment of your vehicles. The criminal element usually looks to commit crimes of opportunity and leaving valuables in plain sight is certainly providing the thieves with that opportunity. If you must leave valuables inside your vehicle, please lock them inside the trunk. Please remember however, that most cars allow the trunk to be opened from inside the passenger compartment. Locking your valuables inside the trunk in no guarantee that they will be safe. The best alternative is to take your valuables with you. Please keep this in mind the next time you park and lock your vehicles. Thank you.

Street Smart

• Carry purses on your person snapped or locked, do not place them in shopping carts or on counters. Especially in grocery stores.
• Keep MINIMAL number of credit cards (1 debit, 1 credit is optimal), ID, checks in your purse or wallet. Leave your SSN card at home, it isn’t needed usually.
• Keep your car registration on your person, not in your car. If they break in, they can get your garage door opener and your address from the registration.
• If you can’t find your garage door opener, immediately go home and disconnect it and have it reprogrammed. Don’t wait to try and find it.
• When traveling, you and your spouse should each carry a credit card from a different bank. If one is stolen or compromised, the other won’t accidentally get cancelled too.
• When you use a credit card, watch where the clerk places the receipt. Temporary employees may keep your receipt for personal use later.
• Never let the credit card or drivers license leave your view. Don’t let photocopies be made of your drivers license, when they are done with them, the copied licenses can end up anywhere. If you must, ask for the copy back when they are done.
• Use pay at the pump with a credit card whenever possible. Avoid using credit cards at gas stations/mini stores that you normally don’t use. If you must, use a credit card, not a debit card. The debit card fraud can have a larger impact if the number is stolen.
• Use cash for small purchases. It lessens the chance of identity theft
• Park your vehicle in a well lit area when you are going to be walking to your car after dark. Do not park in a secluded place away from others. THINK about where you are choosing to park, what looks good during the day, may be totally different at night.
• When leaving a business after dark, try to walk to your car with other people. Watch for suspicious person watching you or following you at a short distance.
• Have your car keys in your hand so you are not in the dark looking for them in your purse.
• Look inside and around your vehicle before getting in.
• If contacted for directions, questions by a stranger inside or outside the store, be suspicious of the distraction. A partner may be taking your purse or store items.
• Place purchased items in the trunk or under a cover (i.e. blanket, towel) if you plan on more shopping at another location. This is to avoid your car being broken into for gifts.
• Drive with your vehicle doors locked. If someone runs up to your vehicle in a roadway…DRIVE AWAY! Do not stay and chat, it may be a car jacking.
• When at home, keep doors locked when you are not near the open door.
• Leave porch lights and any other outside light on. Burglars are sometimes discouraged by well lit areas.
• Do not leave your vehicle running while unoccupied. It’s the law.
• If you have a vehicle that is popular to steal or you are going to park in large parking lots desired by car thieves, use a steering wheel locking bar type device that are commonly purchased. They are the most effective deterrent in most potential auto thefts.
• Do not give personal information over the phone if you are not sure who the caller is. The best rule of thumb is to not give any information over the phone unless YOU called them.
• Don’t give money, bank account numbers or credit card numbers to charities over the phone that called you. Many are false charities looking to scam you.