Everyone loves the holiday season. It’s a special time of the year full of family, good food, and good times. In a previous post, we offered tips on being secure with online holiday shopping. With this post, we will offer tips on ways to make your holiday retail shopping more secure. These tips come from Regions Corporate Security. As much fun as holiday shopping can be, it’s also a time of the year where people can become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crimes. Follow these tips to ensure to keep you and your family safe and secure during your busy holiday retail shopping.
Ways to Maintain Security During Holiday Retail Shopping
- Utilize parking lots that have adequate lighting; try to walk with other people too and from retail establishments.
- After gift shopping, place your purchases in the trunk of your car as soon as possible.
- Avoid leaving shopping bags or gifts in plain view inside your vehicle where they can be seen by anyone passing by.
- Limit the amount of jewelry that you wear while you are out shopping.
- Limit the amount of cash you take on shopping trips and limit the visibility of the cash you have on hand when making purchases.
- Consider reducing high-limit credit cards if you don’t need or use the available credit limit.
- Beware of “shoulder surfers” — criminals who attempt to obtain your card information when your card is in plain view.
- Keep your cell phone fully charged at all times in case of an emergency.
- Be sure to locate your keys prior to arriving at your car, for quick entry access if needed. Keep a secure hold on your purse, handbag, and parcels.
- Do not put them down or on top of the car in order to open the door.
- When approaching or leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings.
- Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious people in the area. Ask mall or store security for an escort before leaving your shopping location if you feel unsafe.
- Avoid parking next to vans, trucks with camper shells, or cars with tinted windows
- Be sure to locate your keys prior to arriving at your car
- Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked.
- Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside.
- Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused. Keep a record or copy of all credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
- Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
- Teach children to seek assistance from police or security in the event you become separated while shopping. that it gets stolen.
Be safe with your holiday retail shopping!