CityView Magazine

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … three robbers lurking. The holiday season can be a busy time for Fayetteville Po- lice and the Cumberland County Sheriff's department. Judg- ing from data collected by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, there's not a significant uptick in crime in De- cember. In fact, for the last several years, numbers for things like burglary and motor vehicle theſt were higher in Novem- ber than in December. But that doesn't mean your home and your belongings aren't a prime target. The holiday season is like the perfect storm for would-be robbers thanks to homes filled with giſts and the fact that many families vacation over the holidays. Fayetteville Police Public Information Officer Gavin McRoberts put it perfectly: "While the public is mak- ing their shopping lists, so are the criminals." There are several precautions families can take to guard their homes against break-ins. Fayetteville Police suggest the following: keeping presents out of full view in an open window or door; writing down serial numbers of products before you wrap them; turn on porch lights and leave lights on inside your home to make it appear as if you're home when you aren't; don't leave notes for delivery personnel, family or friends on your door; and use a deadbolt lock every time you leave your home, no matter how quick the trip. On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … four busted fenders. Traffic can be a nightmare during the Police also suggest putting your lights on timers, changing the outgoing message on an answering machine to ensure it doesn't appear you're not home, and stopping mail and news- paper delivery. Better still, take advantage of the Fayetteville Police Depart- ment's home check-in program for added security. Citizens On Patrol (COP) is a nation-wide program that enlists the help of eligible citizens to be the "eyes and ears" for the police depart- ment. The volunteers patrol the city in specially marked vehi- cles reporting suspicious activity, checking on homes while the owners are away. On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … six shattered car windows. Some of the things that make your home attractive to crimi- Police Department Citizens On Patrol holiday season, and not just on the road. Crowded mall parking lots are rife with fender benders and near-misses of walking pedestrians. Shoppers need to be aware of their surroundings and mindful of pedestrians on crosswalks. Also, simple things like not blocking intersections and right-of-ways and park- ing properly in marked spots cut down on a bunch of holiday headaches while out shopping. On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … five vacations ruined Clearly, your home is terribly vulnerable when you're not there. That vulnerability is magnified when it's clear to a criminal that your home will be unoccupied for an extended period of time. So if you're planning to take a family vacation, Fayetteville Police suggest you take several steps. First and foremost, let trustworthy neighbors or friends know you're leaving town. Someone has to watch your house. But, while it's good to alert your neighbors, you probably don't want to broadcast your vacation plans too much. You never know who is listening. And you also never know who is trolling your Facebook account. Those great photos you took on the beach and immediately placed on your Facebook page could be the impetus for a would-be robber to choose your home over someone else's. 910.433.1033 Volunteer Crime Prevention Patrol Fayetteville The nals during the holiday season are the same things that make your car a mark for thieves — a presumption that your car is full of giſts and other goodies. Make sure that your car doesn't stand out. Don't leave items in full view for any passerby to see. Lock shopping bags in the trunk of your car. And aſter locking your doors, check to make sure they are indeed locked. On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … seven purses taken. Shopping center parking lots may be crowded with holiday shoppers, but the mantra "safety in numbers" doesn't nec- essarily apply this time of year. Criminals, lured by the prospect of consumers with cash in hand to buy presents, view mall and shopping center parking lots as fertile ground for robberies. The reason? They assume that shop- pers are carrying wads of cash. In an effort to maintain your personal safety, Fayetteville Police have several tips. First, avoid shopping alone. Customers should also try to park in well-lit areas. For people who need the aid of a cane, walker or crutches, law enforcement suggest you place money and credit cards in a fanny pack worn on the front of your body. Finally, if you are carrying cash be careful not to flash it and if you're using credit cards, police suggest that you only take the ones that you are using and leave the rest at home. On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … eight neighbors fuming. You would hope that your neighbors are looking out for your property. You should be doing the same. Law enforce- ment urges you to report any suspicious activity, which begs the question, what is suspicious activity? Someone unfamiliar in the neighborhood snooping around. Unfamiliar cars driv- ing slowly down the street for no apparent reason. Unusual noises. These are all things you should report. Practice all these safety tips this holiday season and you'll be happily five-golden-ringing in the new year come January. CV CityViewNC.com | 53

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