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Holiday Safety Tips

Contributed by: Cary Johnson on 11/26/2007

From the Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties
District Attorney Scott Storey

Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us. Malls and retail stores will be crowded with much hustle and bustle. The crowds, excitement, and activity can provide fertile ground for criminal activity. Lots of opportunities for distraction can occur. A Mom can go running after a tot, leaving shopping bags and/or a purse sitting unattended. The push-and-pull of people bumping into one another to catch the big sale can assist those who would desire to lift a wallet from a man's back pocket or out of a purse that is carried open. Checks, credit cards, and Driver's License's are laid on counters with a bevy of people nearby. Many retail outlets will hire short-term clerks for the holiday season; some may be bent on stealing personal information. Tis' the season for wonderful times...and opportunity for crime. Some suggestions:

Never leave anything openly sitting in a car. Do not get out of a car and clearly place a purse, etc., in the trunk of your car;

Take receipts and place them in your purse, wallet, or pocket. Do not leave them in shopping bags. Even though Colorado statute prohibits printing a whole credit card number on a receipt, many businesses still do so;

Be aware of your surroundings. Watch for 'shoulder surfers' who are looking to capture bank account numbers from checks or credit card information;

Reduce your use of checks. Use your debit card, with a PIN, and cover the Keypad when you enter your PIN;

Try to avoid becoming distracted. Keep your purse in sight; better yet, carry economic information in a waist pack or pocket;

To the best of your ability, keep your eye on your credit card; in restaurants or retail stores, take an extra moment to make sure your own credit card was returned to you;

Be wary of strangers who want to engage you in conversation. Sure it's the holiday season and we all want to be friendly; however, crooks may try to distract you to steal personal information;

Check your bank and credit card statements carefully. You have 30 days to report fraudulent bank charges and 60 days to report fraudulent credit card charges. Remember, crooks do not need to steal your checks or credit card to fraudulently use these financial instruments.

For more assistance, call the
Fraud Hotline: 303-271-6980

To schedule a crime prevention
seminar, call: 303-271-6970


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Cary Johnson

Thornton , CO

Cary Johnson has posted 75 stories and 0 comments since joining on 10/5/2006. Cary Johnson 's average story rating is 5.
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