The day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. It’s also a time that thieves and pickpockets are on the lookout for distracted shoppers.
Roseville Police remind you of a few tips to avoid becoming a victim of theft.
- Park in a well-lit area. Lock your vehicle and activate your car alarm. Thieves only need a few seconds to snatch something from your car. They are less likely to break into a vehicle if they can be seen or heard by others.
- Shop in a group or with a friend, if possible. Criminals often target anyone who is alone.
- Be alert of others around you. Thieves often work in teams to distract potential victims, engaging potential victims in conversation to get closer to your possessions.
- Close your purse to make it harder for a pickpocket to remove contents.
- Do not leave your purse or your purchases unattended while browsing or stopping for a snack.
- Keep track of receipts in case your items are stolen. This helps police understand the value of the items taken, and the information may assist in filing insurance claims. When purchasing items, take the receipt from the cashier rather than leaving in the bag.
- If you plan to continue shopping after placing purchases into your vehicle, consider driving to another parking spot away from anybody who could have seen you place items in your trunk. Thieves look for people putting purchases into their vehicles.
Follow these tips year-round. Thieves don’t limit their activity to the holiday season. Remember to report all suspicious activity to 9-1-1 as soon as possible. Visit www.cityofroseville.com/Police for additional crime prevention tips.