Ways to avoid becoming the target of a Christmas thief

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Contact Index staff writer Chris Agee
at cagee@mineralwellsindex.com.

Deter Home Burglaries

Mineral Wells Chief of Police Dean Sullivan offers these tips to help keep your home from being a target of thieves during the Christmas holiday.
• Use motion-activated outdoor lights.
• Don’t leave windows or doors cracked to run electrical cords outside.
• Don’t let discarded boxes tip off thieves what you have purchased.
• Shred receipts before throwing them away.
• Use dead bolt locks and window hinges.
• Keep garage doors down and locked.
• Don’t let thieves see into your home.
• When gone, make it appear someone is home.

Cyber Crime Tips

To help prevent cyber theft, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released a list of tips online shoppers can use to avoid becoming a victim.
• Do not respond to unsolicited or spam emails.
• Do not click on links contained within such emails.
• Be cautious of emails containing attached files and only open those from known senders. Run a virus scan before opening any attachments.
• Avoid filling out forms contained in email messages that request personal information.
• Compare any links in an email to the web address it directs to and make sure they match.
• Visit a business’ official website directly instead of following a link in an unsolicited email.
• Contact a business that supposedly sent the email to verify its authenticity.
• Requests to act quickly are often scams meant to compel people to act impulsively.
Source: FBI

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November 25, 2012

Ways to avoid becoming the target of a Christmas thief

Police chief offers several seasonal crime prevention tips

Anonymous Mineral Wells Index The Mineral Wells Index Sun Nov 25, 2012, 07:07 AM CST

By CHRIS AGEE

‘Tis the season to shop, buy and – for some – steal.

In an effort to reduce property crime in the weeks leading up to Christmas, Mineral Wells Police Chief Dean Sullivan released a list of home security suggestions for locals to remember.

Sullivan explained the shopping season gives thieves an opportunity to target homes containing recently purchased gifts.

The first step in protecting one’s property is deterrence, he explained, suggesting residents install motion-activated outdoor lighting to make the home a conspicuous target.

When decorating with Christmas lights, Sullivan said individuals should secure the premises, noting criminals often look for partially open windows through which extension cords might pass. He encouraged the use of solar- or battery-powered lights if outdoor electrical outlets are unavailable.

Sullivan said criminals often use citizens’ trash as an indicator of possible valuables inside. For this reason, he said any discarded boxes for expensive items should not be visible and any trash not recycled should be placed on the curb shortly before collection. Additionally, he stressed the importance of shredding all receipts and personal paperwork before discarding them.

Since a large percentage of burglars enter a residence through windows and unlocked doors, Sullivan said citizens should check for weak spots in all possible entry points and suggested installing deadbolt locks and new window hinges for added security.

He said garages and sheds are also commonly targeted by thieves and said both should be securely locked.

To ensure the sight of valuables does not entice a would-be thief, he encouraged locals to keep windows covered at night with curtains, drapes or blinds.

When leaving home, Sullivan said several tips can help create the illusion of occupancy and decrease the likelihood of a break-in.

He said anyone away from home for an extended period of time should postpone newspaper delivery. Other tips include arranging for a neighbor to park in the driveway, using light timers and refraining from leaving outgoing messages indicating the home will be vacant.

Burglars often check various places around a home for a spare key, Sullivan said, explaining a safer option for residents is leaving the extra key to a family member or trusted neighbor. Finally, he said, anyone with a residential alarm system should make sure it is set and in proper working order.