Don’t let criminals ruin your Christmas and holiday season. Here are some ideas.
Think about what you would do in an attack situation. Visualize the steps you would take if someone tried to rob you. Visualize the steps you would take to avoid a bad situation. That may entail turning around and running. Shopping for Christmas gifts is so much easier with a list. A list is a preconceived idea of what to buy. Visualizing helps to have a general idea of what you will do in case you have to defend yourself. Have a plan even though you may never use it or your situation ends up being different than you visualized. Having a plan will help you think on your feet if needed.
All of us have a sense about situations. I call it the Spirit. Some call it intuition. Others call it a gut feeling. Pay attention to this. There will be warning signs. If you sense something is not right act upon it. Get away from the area or person. Change your environment by moving out of dark into light or where there are more people. Create distance between what you are concerned about and yourself. Don’t blow off the instinct, what’s the worst that could happen if you’re wrong? Pay attention to descriptions of people or license numbers and makes of vehicles of the focus of your concern. Call for help if you need it.
Don’t shop alone. Shop with friends or family. There is indeed safety in numbers.
Keep your children safe. Make sure young children are with you in a crowd. Use strollers and shopping carts to keep them secure. Make sure older kids and teenagers know where to go in an emergency. There may be a mall or store security station. Make sure they have a phone with them if possible. Set a time and place to meet and never let your kids go off alone.
Don’t get overburdened with purchases. Take purchases and lock them in your trunk before getting more. If you lock them in the vehicle make sure they are out of sight. Carry a spare blanket to keep these things hidden.
Remember safety when going to your vehicle. Have your keys in your hand and your head on a swivel. Check the back seat before entering your vehicle. Park near people or entrances. If that’s not possible at least park near a well-lit area. Beware anyone who wants to help you to your car or someone who is too friendly. Holiday cheer is one thing, but too much interest in your business is another. If you feel threatened find a store or mall security or employee who would be willing to walk you to your car. If you go from one store to the next hide your items before getting to the next parking lot. Thieves may observe you covering or hiding your purchases.
About 83% of people surveyed said they would do at least some shopping online for Christmas gifts this year. Remember online security. Change passwords frequently. Do not give personal information online. Use your credit card sparingly. Use secure payment services like PayPal whenever possible. Monitor credit card purchases several times during the holiday season to ensure no one has stolen your information and are using your credit.
When approached about giving to charities in public or at home ensure that the charity is a credible one. Real charities give their representatives identification to solicit for them. When someone is at your front door be very careful about opening your door. Once the door is open it’s too late to check on their identity. If you are not sure, do not open the door! If you suspect something other than what they claim to be, ask them to leave your property. If they do not leave, call the police. Don’t ever be intimidated or pressured into giving charity. We all should be charitable, but not be compelled or bullied into being charitable.
I hope these tips have made you think about safety and security during these hectic holidays.
We at LDS Gunsite hope that your Christmas is wonderful and that you think about the great mission that Christ came here to fulfill. If you are not Christian we hope your holidays are joyous and that family and friends will make it special. We also hope your New Year is safe and happy!
Merry Christmas!
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