Officials offer safety tips for holiday shoppers
By Melanie Davis
melanie@highcountrymedia.net

Christmas bells are ringing at every retail store in the country. The biggest shopping season of the year has arrived. A bustling crowd with money to spend, however, can be an easy target for criminal activity.

“This time of year attracts more shopping-related criminal activity because of the larger crowds and extended store hours. These factors and the usual distraction of shopping creates a more favorable environment for petty thieves and other offenders,” said Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman.

There are ways to protect against falling victim to these offenses. Some safe shopping tips are listed below.
Always shop with a friend or relative. A single person is an easier target. Someone should know where the shopper is planning to go and what time they are planning to return.

Dress comfortably and casual, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry. A thief may see expensive jewelry and clothing as a high-dollar target.

Cash should be carried in the front pocket, instead of a purse or wallet. This will make it harder for a pick-pocket to steal.

It is a good idea to carry car keys in a pocket or jacket rather than a purse. In the event of a purse theft, the customer would be able to drive home.

Parking lot safety is a big concern. Citizens should try to shop during daylight hours, but if that isn’t possible, park the vehicle in a well-lit area. When returning to the vehicle, check in and around the vehicle and carry the keys in hand. This will prevent fumbling with packages and unnecessary time spent standing outside a locked vehicle. A security guard would be willing to walk a customer back the vehicle, if that customer is uneasy about the parking lot.

It is a good idea to have a cell phone handy in case of an emergency situation.

“During this time of year, busy holiday shoppers become careless and vulnerable to other crimes as well.

Credit card and gift card fraud are on the rise. However, a few preventive measures can help,” Hagaman said.

When planning a shopping excursion, people should take only the credit cards that will be used. Write down the numbers before leaving the house, just in case a card is lost or stolen. However, the personal identification number should not be written on the card or carried with the card at any time.

Keep a close eye on the card every time it is used, and make sure the card is returned immediately after purchase. Customers should be very aware of anyone standing too close during check-out. Shield the card so others around can’t copy it or capture the numbers with a cell phone or other camera.

For those who prefer shopping from home, be sure to check out the business and Web site before submitting credit card information. Transactions should only take place with companies that provide a telephone number and street address. If, for any reason, a customer is uncomfortable submitting a credit card number online, Hagaman recommends calling the business and making the transaction over the phone. Credit card information should never be e-mailed.

Gift cards are a great solution to shopping conundrums. However, gift card fraud is becoming more common. The largest source of this fraud are on-line auction sites. Many of the gift cards on these sites are stolen, counterfeit or used.

Gift cards should be purchased only directly from the store issuing the card or from a secure retailer’s Web site. Purchases are best made at the sales terminal directly from a cashier, which is scanned in front of the customer. This guarantees the gift card is valid and that it reflects the balance a customer intended.

Never give a social security number, bank account number, date of birth or any other unneeded private information when purchasing a gift card. A reputable company will not ask for such information.

Maintaining good records are a key to preventing fraudulent activity. After shopping for multiple items and conducting several transactions, financial records should be closely monitored to ensure no additional unauthorized purchases have been made. Maintain receipts for gift cards as long as there is still money on them.

A few extra safety measures will ensure a safe holiday shopping trip. Preventive measures can save money and time in the future. “Unfortunately, when shopping people have a tendency to let their guard down,” Hagaman said.

“However, paying attention and taking precautions can help eliminate their chances of being victimized.”

Shopping by the Numbers

$474.5 billion – projected national holiday sales

Per Person averages:
$923.36 – total

$469.14 – for family members
$90.13 - for friend
$22.79 – for co-workers
$37.45 - for others
$49.76 – on decorations
$94.69 – on candy and food
$32.21 – on greeting cards and postage

Where is holiday money spent:
68.4% - discount stores
58.2% - department stores
44.6% - grocery stores
44.3% - On-line

What consumers want
53.8% - gift cards or certificates
50.1% - clothing and accessories
50.8% - books, CDs, DVDs, videos and video games
36.4% - consumer electronics and computer accessorie
23.8% - jewelry
22% - home décor or home furnishings

Source: National Retail Federation