Police Issue Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

The Moorpark Police Department has issued some advice to help keep this a happy holiday season.

Malls, stores and supermarkets are more crowded than usual, making keeping track of children more difficult and offering more targets for those with bad intentions.

If you go shopping with children, keep the following advice in mind:

• Ensure that any children with you know your cell phone number. Give cards with contact information to any who don’t.
• Make a plan with children in case you get separated. Have a central meeting place, and review with your children who they can turn to for help if they find themselves alone.
• Go over the dangers of strangers with them so that they know who not to talk to or follow.

Whether you are celebrating a holiday or not, the police department recommend keeping the following in mind when going out to shop:

• Keep careful track of your bags and other packages. If you leave something behind, it could get stolen or discarded.
• Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an unattended bag or package. The same applies when taking mass transit: report any unattended packages to security or staff.
• Be sure not to buy more than you can carry. If your packages are making it hard for you to walk upright or see, ask a store employee to help you carry them to your car.
• Check receipts to see whether your full credit card number appears. If a receipt has your full number on it, take a pen and thoroughly scratch it out.
• Double check that you have your credit cards and check book after you pay for your items.
• Remember that the bad guys may be watching you store your packages in your car and then go to another store. That’s when they break into your car and steal what you just stowed away so you could continue to shop.