Law enforcement officials offer shopping safety tips to avoid holiday theft

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Keeping things out of sight, staying alert and locking your doors are all steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of holiday theft.

“I think it’s really prevalent all year, but there’s a little bit more of a heightened focus on it at this time of year,” said Lt. Jon Middendorf of the Colerain Township Police Department. 

Middendorf said that those crimes of opportunity often happen before shoppers make it to their car. 

“People leave their wallet in the cart, and then they will start looking at something,” he said. “That’s the perfect opportunity for somebody to actually take that.”

Middendorf advises shoppers to take all valuables out of their vehicle and put them in a secure place, like your trunk. 

Whether it’s money, electronic devices or even a firearm, Middendorf said criminals can and will take whatever they can get their hands on. 

“If you keep things in your center console or even in your glove box, they will go through those areas to see if they can find anything. We recommend if you’re going to keep things in your glove box, make sure it’s locked,” he said.  

The potential of someone becoming a victim of theft increases by upwards of 20% in December, according to The National Crime Victimization Survey. 

If you decide to go the online route for your holiday shopping, law enforcement officials say that won’t stop you from potentially becoming a victim of theft and advise that you still proceed with caution. 

“If you order online, you can choose to go pick your package up at the store,” Middendorf said. “That’s going to be one of the safer ways to make sure that none of your packages are stolen.”

He said you can also set instructions that you must sign for delivery, ensuring the package is not just left on your porch.

If you are planning to be away when your package arrives, police suggest having a neighbor or a family friend sign for it or pick it up for you.

Committing these theft crimes could result in fines or even jail time, depending on the value of the merchandise.