[November 25, 2009] Shoppers: Beware of gift snatchers: Police boosting patrols as shopping season kicks off Tweet Nov 25, 2009 (The Capital - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A trek through a parking lot with an armful of merchandise marks a successful outing for a holiday shopper. It also makes for an easy target for criminals wanting to get their hands on the year's hottest gifts without braving large crowds and spending their own money. Although county police say they've seen an overall decrease in thefts and robberies this year, they are reminding shoppers to be vigilant while walking in parking lots with bags in hand and wallets packed with cash. Last year, county police investigated 64 robberies from Black Friday to New Year's Eve, said Justin Mulcahy, a county police spokesman. In 2007, officers investigated 83 in the same time period, police said. The holidays provide plenty of distractions to frazzled shoppers, painting a target on their backs for a parking lot robbery or vehicle break-in, said Sgt. John Gilmer of the county police Southern District station. If an item is a must-have for shoppers this season, odds are it's on a thief's wish list, too. Shoppers who must store small electronics in their vehicles -- like cell phones, GPS units, video game units and laptop computers -- should be sure to stow them in the trunk and out of sight, Gilmer said. Thieves are more likely to break into a vehicle if they can see a quick grab inside. "We call it a smash and grab," Gilmer said. "(Thieves) will break a window real quick, grab an item and leave." If a thief peeks into a car and can't see any gifts, whether in the trunk or under a blanket, they are less likely to take the time -- or the risk -- to break in and draw attention. "They know what they're getting if it's in plain sight," Gilmer said. "They want to know that they're going to get something." Gilmer, who patrolled shopping centers bordering Annapolis during his shift last Friday, advises shoppers to drop off expensive merchandise at home before hitting the next shopping destination. Shoppers also can avoid leaving high-priced presents in their vehicles by making those purchases at the end of their shopping trip, Gilmer said. But having gifts stolen from a parked car isn't the only danger out there. Getting pricey electronics and other valuable merchandise to a parked car has its own risks. Last fall, a woman was struck in the head and robbed of a new Apple laptop and iPod in the middle of the afternoon in the Nordstrom parking garage at Westfield Annapolis mall. The robber was never caught. Patrolling the mall While driving laps around Westfield Annapolis in his patrol car last week, Gilmer said police keep a close eye on garages, trying to catch a criminal in the act or prevent a crime from happening. While going floor to floor in the Macy's parking garage, which was almost empty on Friday, Gilmer slowed down when he saw a white Jeep Cherokee with a man sitting in the driver's seat. The driver, who was parked on the top deck of the garage, appeared to be reading a book. "He could just be waiting for someone," Gilmer said. "But you never know." Gilmer got on his police radio and read off the Jeep's license plate number to communications. "I'm just going to check priors (previous incidents) on these tags," he said. "If that vehicle was once involved in a theft, that would raise a red flag and I'd need to keep an eye on it. Or, say, if there was a (vehicle) theft in the same area later today, we would want to talk (to the owner)." By sporadically popping into parking garages, police can sometimes catch a thief in the act. Security cameras also help deter crime in garages. But Gilmer said shoppers should still be aware of their surroundings, especially after dusk. If shoppers are uneasy walking to their car with arms full of purchases, they could use escort services offered at county malls. "A lot of the malls have these services for customers," Gilmer said. 'Ask an officer' County police will implement their holiday patrols on Friday, Mulcahy said. "Citizens can expect to see a greater police presence and increased visibility in and around shopping centers and malls," he said. While he wouldn't divulge Westfield Annapolis mall's holiday patrol tactics, spokesman Scott DeGrafenreid said security of shoppers is paramount year-round. He said the mall has foot and vehicle patrols, electronic surveillance, and uniformed and plain-clothed officers patrolling during and after mall hours. He said phones are stationed around mall parking lots and garages for shoppers to call in an emergency. And, like Gilmer, DeGrafenreid urged uneasy shoppers to take advantage of escort services. "The best thing to do is go to the concierge by Lord & Taylor," he said. "Or ask an officer any time." He said Westfield mall officials will do what it takes to keep shoppers safe. "We don't really get into deployment methods and alert methods, but our shoppers will be as safe after Thanksgiving as they always are," DeGrafenreid said. City police will have extra patrols in Annapolis' high-traffic areas as well, said Ray Weaver, a city police spokesman. The county police Crime Prevention Section also will hand out fliers as part of their anti-theft campaign, and bike patrols will supplement the holiday patrols, Mulcahy said. --- SAFETY DURING THE HOLIDAYS Police and security experts offer the following tips for holiday shoppers: --Keep your keys in hand when walking to your car. --Park your vehicle as close as possible to street lights. --Take advantage of mall escort services when walking to your vehicle. --Avoid carrying large amounts of money and keep your wallet or money in your front pockets. --Keep your vehicle locked at all times. --Store all merchandise out of view in your vehicle, preferably in the trunk. --Keep devices such as GPS units, laptop computers and MP3 listening devices out of view. At home: --Lock doors and windows when you leave the house, even if you will only be gone for a minute. --Keep holiday gifts out of view from windows or doors. --When going on trips or out for the evening, use automatic timers to turn indoor lights on and off to make it appear you are home. --Don't advertise what you got for Christmas by putting the boxes out on trash day. Break the boxes down or take them to the dump yourself. To see more of The Capital or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.hometownannapolis.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Capital, Annapolis, Md. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]