The holiday season is always a special time of year for friends and families to get together.  It is also a time when people become busy and relaxed when it comes to preventing holiday crime.  In Collierville, thefts are usually crimes of opportunity, so be mindful of where you are and what you are revealing at all times.

At Home

• Make sure all doors and windows have secondary locks (window pins, deadbolts, dowels, etc.) and use them!
• Don't hide spare keys in mailboxes or planters, or under doormats.
• Ensure that dark areas and entrances have outdoor lights that are turned on after dark or are activated by sensors.
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed so they do not conceal doors and windows. Remember, overgrown foliage can provide a hiding place for criminals.
• Place gifts where they can't be seen from the outside. 
• Consider safe deposit boxes for coin and stamp collections, seldom-worn jewelry, stock bonds, etc. 
• Be sure to mail cards, checks or gift certificates from the Post Office or at a blue U.S. Postal Service collection box.
• Lock your vehicle and remove all the valuables. Yes, even in your driveway.

Strangers at your Door

• Use caution anytime there is a stranger at your door. 
• Be suspicious of unexpected sales calls or deliveries. Ask for identification.
• Be aware of scams that criminals commit to take advantage of people's generosity during the holidays. 
• Investigate charities before making donations. Ask how the funds will be used.  

Leaving for the Holidays

• Ask a trusted friend, neighbor, or Neighborhood Watch member to watch your home.
• Use timers for lights and radios while you're away.
• Remember to make arrangements for mail and newspapers. 
• You may also sign up for the CPD Vacation Check program.  A member from the Citizens Volunteer Program will make periodic checks of your residence (must live in Collierville).  To file a request, visit https://www.colliervilletn.gov/government/town-departments/police/programs-services/vacation-check-667

Tips to Avoid Package Thefts

• Get a P.O. Box as Your Local Post Office
• Use Lockers, most companies, such as Amazon, have lockers in local businesses, where you can collect your items
• Set Up Notifications to Track Your Packages
• Install a Security Camera
• Get Your Packages Delivered to Your Office
• Require a Signature on Delivery
• Reschedule Delivery or Ask for a Package Hold When on Vacation
• Insure Your Packages
• Ask Your Neighbors to Grab Your Packages

Tips While Shopping

• Try Not to Carry a Lot of Cash - Stealing someone’s debit or credit card takes extra work. That’s why cash is so attractive to thieves. If cash is all you’ve got, keep it in a wallet and in your front pocket.
• Dress Down - You would think some people are having dinner at the royal family’s the way that they dress to go shopping. Dress comfortably and leave the jewelry at home. This will take a thief’s focus off of you.
• Don’t Shop Alone (Especially at Night) - Not only is shopping with someone safer, but it makes the adventure much more enjoyable! If you must shop alone, try your best to do so during the day, or part in a well-lit area close to the mall entrance.
• Walk with Your Head High - Nowadays, everyone’s heads are down staring at their phones. Whatever the reason for head being down, lift it up! This will help you have better awareness of your surroundings and keep you safer.
• Keep Your Purse Close - If you’re carrying a purse, keep in front of you instead of behind. If you’re keeping it in a cart, make sure the purse is closest to you, zipped or buttoned closed, and attached to the cart itself. You can use a carabiner, or the buckle straps found on most carts.
• If You’re Missing a Credit Card, Notify Your Bank Immediately - If your debit or credit card has gone missing, notify your bank before doing any more shopping. Given that it’s the holiday season, chances are it’s lost in your purse or winter jacket pocket. But, if it’s a worst-case scenario, you want to minimize the damage as much as possible (if not completely).
• Put Purchases in the Trunk - Leaving your purchases visible in any of the passenger seats can increase your risk of theft. To be safe, put as much of your purchases in the trunk. You can cover them with a sheet or blanket, too. That way criminals are less likely to entertain the thought of breaking into your car.
• Find Your Keys Before Walking to Your Car - While you’re still in the store, find and hold your keys before you leave. Looking down and fumbling through your purse makes you an easy and distracted target for someone trying to commit a crime with minimal resistance.
• Lock Your Car Doors the Moment You Get Inside - Once you’ve successfully finished your holiday shopping and made it back to your car safely, lock your car doors. Yes – even before you buckle up and put the keys in the ignition.

After the Holidays

• Don't advertise expensive toys, electronics, or other gifts received by the boxes left for garbage collections. Compress large boxes and place them in black garbage bags for pick-up. 
• Add new items to your home inventory. Take photos or video of all items of value in your home and list each item's make, model, serial number, and other information. 
• Engrave new items to help identify them in the event they are stolen.