Avoiding Holiday Horrors

By: Jamie Bernal III
jamie@seymourherald.com
Black Friday will begin the hustle and bustle of the largest shopping season of the year.
It can be a chaotic time, which leaves thieves with many opportunities to steal from unaware individuals if shoppers don’t remain aware of their surroundings.
Cars are an easy target for thieves to hit. Bob Stahlke, public information officer for the Sevierville Police Department, has tips to keep lives and valuables safe.
“Don’t leave belongings or packages in the passenger compartment,” Stahlke said. “Put them in your trunk. Make sure your car is locked.”
Stahlke said many crimes are crimes of opportunity. If there are valuable items in plain sight, criminals see the vehicle as an easy target.
Also, a thief is going to try opening the doors first. If a car is locked, it may deter a thief. However, if the car owner forgets to lock the doors, there is nothing stopping a stranger from taking belongings.
“Most shopping centers have good lighting,” said Stahlke. “If you park in an area without good lighting, you should move your car to where there is good lighting.”
A rare, but real, occurrence is a woman having her purse stolen. Bob Stahlke said it probably only happens once or twice a year, but it is still threat.
“Avoid leaving your purse unattended,” Stahlke said. “If you put your purse in the shopping cart, don’t put it where you can put a child, put it down in the larger area.”
He said it is best for women to have a shoulder strap on their purses and put them over their shoulders. If a woman puts her purse in the large compartment area of the shopping cart, she should find a way to secure the bag to the cart. Remember to keep all openings of the purse closed tight.
Every year there are many incidents that happen, especially between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. It is a season where everyone is in a hurry, but shoppers are urged to take their time and make sure everything is secure.