Springettsbury Township Police Department reminds you to LOCK YOUR VEHICLE and hide your valuables during the holiday shopping season.
The holiday shopping season is upon us. Springettsbury Township Police Department would like to offer you a few Shopping Safety Tips to make your shopping experience more enjoyable.
If you are shopping at night, don’t do it alone. Have a friend or family member with you.
If you are walking to your vehicle at night, have your keys in your hand, ready to use. Don’t get stuck digging in your purse or pockets for your car keys. Once you are safely in your vehicle, leave immediately. Don’t sit in the parking lot, balancing your checkbook, counting money, or anything else that may distract you.
Try not to carry a purse or a wallet. Put your cash or credit cards in your front pants pocket or a zippered pocket on the front of your person. If you do carry a purse, carry it close to your body with the opening facing toward you.
Stay alert to your surroundings. Don’t look like an “easy target”. Walk around with your head up, your hands free, and with confidence.
Avoid overloading yourself with purchases. Try to keep your hands free.
If you take your purchases to your vehicle before you are finished shopping for the day, stow them in your locked trunk or out of sight from someone walking through the parking lot.
Make your most expensive purchases at the end of your shopping day so once those transactions are finished, you can leave right away.
Be wary of any strangers approaching you and trying to distract you.
Do not make any ATM withdraws if you see someone loitering in the area of the ATM. If you see someone who looks or acts suspicious. Walk away from the ATM.
Try to make your money withdraws BEFORE getting to the shopping center. If you can’t, while you are using the ATM, make sure you look around during the transaction so you are aware of your surroundings.
Be aware of your surroundings while loading your children or packages into your vehicle. Pause in what you are doing and look around.
Keep your receipts and check your bank statements daily. If you find discrepancies, notify the appropriate financial institution and the appropriate police department.
If you are shopping with family members, have a meeting place in case you get separated.
If you are shopping with small children, explain to them that they should go to a store employee or a security guard for help, in case you get separated from them.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
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