From Thanksgiving to New Years, many communities experience an increase in burglaries and thefts. The Pell City Police Department would like to offer the following tips to help our citizens protect their identity, property and safety.

While Shopping

• Be sure to park in well-lit areas and shop with friends whenever possible.

• Guard yourself against identity theft. Some of the most common mistakes include letting someone “shoulder-surf” (look over your shoulder and get your PIN), “dumpster dive” (get copies of your transactions), or simply walk away with your credit card to perform the transaction.

• After you park your car to shop or eat, never leave anything of value in plain view. Breaking a window to steal a purse, phone, electronics, or a weapon is common during this time of year.

• If you shop online, only use reputable vendors with secure transactions.

While at Home

• Be aware when any package deliveries will be made. Some thieve will scout neighborhoods and look for packages near the door and garages. If you can’t be home for the delivery, have a trusted neighbor or relative to secure the package for you.

• Notify the police if you are going to be gone for the holidays. Your department will gladly perform multiple home checks everyday for you and “target harden” your neighborhood.

• Check your credit card statements several times and look for anything out of the ordinary.

• Report anything out of the ordinary to the police. By remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious vehicles or persons to your local police, you not only can protect your community, but may solve numerous cases throughout your county.

The Pell City Police has formed a Burglary Task Force during the holiday season and is currently working several leads to apprehend recent thefts in our community. As always, our greatest success comes from working together with the community.

-Staff Report