SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Black Friday is the official kick off to the holiday shopping season and with more shoppers purchasing packages, more thieves are looking to make a grab.
San Diego Sheriff's deputies issued tips on Black Friday for consumers hoping to keep their new gifts safe this season.
First, they advise that shoppers avoid leaving anything a thief would want visible in cars. That includes:
- Purse
- Wallet
- Presents
- Bags
- Packages
- Electronics (i.e. iPad, iPhone, tablet, laptop, music player)
A thief could get an address from shoppers via their car — using a driver's license, insurance registration card, or mail — and in turn try and burglarize a home for those recently-bought presents.
"The biggest mistake is them being on their phones, and not slowing down, taking the time to lock your cars, roll up your windows. Please make sure that any packages that you buy, you remove from your back seat, put them in the trunk, lock them, secure them," Sergeant Pamela Murphy said.
She also wants shoppers to be mindful when they leave the store, especially at night, "don't have too many things in your arms that you can't carry or defend yourself."
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If someone becomes a victim of a crime, deputies don't recommend posting about it on social media. Instead, call local law enforcement. The department does not monitor social media for potential crimes.
Reporting a crime helps law enforcement track trends, which makes a difference in communities.
"If there's trends we need to go out and make sure there's extra patrol and make sure our deputies are checking the area more often as well as the senior volunteers," Murphy said.
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During the holidays the department has more frequent patrols, and puts up Sky Towers in mall parking lots, giving deputies an edge while surveying parking lots.
