As the holidays approach, it becomes more and more important for people to consider ways of making themselves a less desirable target for crooks.

There are four areas where making changes can make a difference:
• home,
• driving,
• shopping,
• children.

It sounds so simple, yet so many of us forget to do it: locking doors and closing garage doors. No one is immune from this forgetfulness. Usually we do it when we’ve got a lot on our minds, such as company coming for the holidays. We need to just slow down.

Since Alpharetta residents get a lot of free newspapers, have your neighbors pick them up for you if you leave town. The fewer indicators of your absence, the safer you will be. Residents may request extra patrol. Fill out a form at police headquarters before you leave town and officers will walk around your home to check for open doors or broken windows. Of course we can’t promise how often we can make these house checks, but we do our best. Forms are also available online at:  http://www.alpharetta.ga.us/files/docs/pdfs/F&D/Pub_safety/Vacation%20Security%20Check%20Form.pdf

Lockable mailboxes prevent people from stealing mail and subsequently engaging in fraud. Identity fraud can take years to clean up and is a headache, to say the least. Lockable mailboxes also prevent people from stealing books of checks from your mailbox, although I’d recommend having checks sent to your bank when you order them.

The subject of driving brings up our most common crime, entering autos. If your time is valuable, take some time to place electronic devices out of plain view when you park. Thieves break windows to get at GPS devices and laptops.

This requires the police to be called, calls to the insurance company, a trip to the station for a copy of the police report, taking the car to have the window replaced- you get the idea. Please refrain from leaving an extra set of car keys in the center console. I know it’s more convenient for the valet, but crooks are aware of this habit.

Holiday parties are just around the corner, and so are police officers watching to make sure you are driving appropriately. Getting a cab is so much cheaper than a DUI, which typically cost $3,500 to $10,000 after attorney’s fees. And let’s not forget the most important thing: your safety and the safety of others.

While shopping, avoid wearing showy jewelry, which would cause a thief to want to follow you home. Keep purses zipped or fastened, especially while at the grocery store, which seems to be a place pickpockets like to strike.

Keep a photocopy of your credit cards, front and back, at home so if someone steals your wallet or purse, you will have the account numbers and phone numbers at your fingertips. Keep the copies in a safe place of course, like a safe.

Stay alert while shopping. Again, slow down. Shopping with another person is best, as is using the ATM machine during the daytime.

Children are what make the holidays so precious for many people. There are a few general tips that could help them, and you, if a situation were to arise. Make sure they know their home address. Quiz them. Also teach them their surroundings. Ask them, “What park are we at today?” They should be able to communicate to a third party where they are. Teach them to look for street signs. Talk to them about the danger of strangers and what they should do if they encounter one with bad intentions. We urge children to make a scene, fight, yell. And it’s a good idea to practice this with them. When a child goes to the front door to answer it, make sure they know who is there first. Explain who they should open the door for, and who they shouldn’t.

These are just a few crime prevention techniques that could make life less stressful and safer this holiday season. Enjoy the holidays!