Simple Precautions Can Stop Thieves 11/21/2007

Holly Springs police say common sense and a few simple precautions can reduce your chances of being victimized by thieves during the holiday shopping season.

Thieves are busy, too, this time of year and are on the lookout for victims inside stores and in parking lots.

“If you make yourself an easy target,” Police Chief John Herring said, “you're going to be singled out.”

Lock your car. Put gifts and items of even modest value in the trunk. Don't leave pocketbooks unattended in shopping carts, even for a few seconds. Those are examples of the easy things that shoppers can do to avoid being victimized.

Holly Springs ranked as the safest town in North Carolina with a population of more than 10,000, according to a 2005 comparison of FBI crime statistics by the Shelby Star newspaper.

“We live in a safe town,” Herring said. “Sometimes that sense of security leads to people letting their guard down.”

Twice recently in Holly Springs grocery stores, shoppers have had purses stolen from their carts when they turned away to reach for an item. Police believe the same woman who stole from those shoppers has committed numerous thefts in neighboring towns.

“Don't leave your purse in the cart,” Lt. Anthony Revels advises. “Make sure you have it with you at all times.”

The Holly Springs Police Department is putting undercover officers in stores during the holiday shopping season to watch for thieves. “We're trying to catch people in the act,” Revels said.

People who become distracted from paying attention to what's going on around them may learn too late that a thief was paying attention to them. To a thief, a shopper on a cell phone or busy attending to small children may make an appealing target.

Before leaving home, Herring said, it's a good idea to remove anything from your wallet or pocketbook that you won't need that day. If it is stolen, there will be less to replace. Don't leave anything visible in your car that might entice a thief, even change.

Holly Springs police are asking that merchants ensure clerks check identification of shoppers using credit cards or checks. The Police Department is offering to share other crime prevention tips with merchants. To schedule a visit, call (919) 552-7110 or e-mail Capt. Mike Bornes at mike.bornes@hollyspringsnc.us.

Shop with a friend when possible and park in well-lit areas. Call police if you see someone who appears to be loitering in the parking lot.

“Just be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts,” Herring said. “If something doesn't look right and feel right, then it's probably not.”

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Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us