Staying aware of your surroundings and the presence of suspicious persons and vehicles nearby is the best advice for avoiding becoming a crime victim around the holidays.
But there are other good ideas to implement to stay safe during this time of the year, according to Ansonia Police Officer Richard Esposito and Yale Medical School Associate Professor Lori Post, who gave a talk for local business people and members of the public Thursday evening at Ansonia High School.
“There are really patterns to crime, and during the holiday season crime tends to spike,” said Post, who researches the causes and patterns of crime violence.
She explained that criminals view the holidays as a time when the opportunity to commit crimes is higher, because more people are busy, out and about, and carrying money and gifts.
There’s more drinking, which can make people more vulnerable because they are less careful, she said.
Esposito added to her warnings by addressing problems related to home burglaries and business robberies, which also increase around this time of year.
He said criminals know that homes are full of new, unopened gifts, which are easy to sell on the street or online, and business’ sales are up making robberies more profitable.
Some of their tips for individuals were:
~Don’t leave your car or house unlocked, even for a few minutes.
~Lock packages in your car trunk, instead of inside the car where they can be easily observed.
~Never drink and drive.
~Be wary of con artists who make promises or ask for help.
~Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
~Watch for suspicious persons or vehicles when stopping at a store or a bank ATM.
~Carry a cheap wallet stuffed with a few dollars to give to muggers in case of a holdup.
~Don’t give personal information to people you don’t know.
~If a car bumps you, keep your doors locked and call the police from a safe place.
Crime prevention tips for businesses included:
~Keep the front windows clear so police and passersby can see what is going on inside your business.
~Make sure you have adequate lighting around your business doors.
~Don’t reopen your business after you closed for the night.
~If robbed, remember the robber’s description, especially his hair, race, height, weight, right or left handed, type of weapon, markings or tattoos, and other distinctive characteristics.
~Don’t count money in public view and vary your deposit schedule so you don’t set a pattern that criminals can observe.
~When closing up, look for suspicious vehicles and individuals lurking nearby.
~Watch for people who might be casing your business or neighborhood to commit a crime.
~And greet each customer who comes in the door, which lets criminals know you are aware of what’s going on.
