Personal safety a concern for holiday shoppers

It is the day after Thanksgiving and shoppers are out in force taking advantage of "Black Friday," when shoppers line up in the early morning hours after Thanksgiving to find the best deals on gifts such as televisions, laptops and MP3 players.

It is also a time when criminals like to look for distracted shoppers to rob and sometimes even kill them.

With Christmas now fast approaching, it should go without saying that shoppers should be aware of their surroundings when out trying to find gifts for their loved ones.

Some shoppers are taking precautions in their own way.

"My advice is to buy a gun," said Woody Lusk, a Houston firefighter who was shopping on Black Friday at the Circuit City on I-10. "You need to watch your backside and take care of one’s self. Shop in groups. This lessens the chance they will mess with you."

"Diamond Jim" Mills, owner of Pineforest Jewelry on Uvalde, said that no one should ever give criminals the opportunity when out shopping.

"Look around you and pay attention to your surroundings," Mills said. "It’s is open season on victims. (Criminals) are like animals looking fro a victim. Don’t act like a victim or be a victim. Look over your shoulder. Know where the security is. See if the place is lit. And do not be distracted. The criminal is focused on you. If you are distracted, you become fair game."

Law officers recently shared a few tips for holiday shoppers so they can enjoy the holidays without the fear of being robbed or worse.

Their suggestions include:

 



• Park in a well-lighted area while shopping at night, as close to stores as possible.

 



• Hold onto packages and purses securely.

 



• Don't be afraid to ask for an escort in the parking lot if there are suspicious looking people around, or it is dark.

 



• Shop with a friend. There's safety in numbers.

 



• Make eye contact with people nearby. Thieves don't want to be identified, and are more likely to target people who aren't paying attention to who or what is going on around them.

 



• If a stranger approaches, hold out your hand to stop them and say, "Can I help you."

 



• Lock purchases in the trunk, and don't leave valuables in sight inside the car.

 



• Watch for pickpockets and con men. Don't give money to panhandlers.

 



• Carry as little cash as possible. Pay for purchase with credit or debit cards if possible.

 



• If attacked, drop purchases and purses.

With the advent of the computer, thieves can now use the keyboard instead of a weapon to steal money from unsuspecting shoppers. Computer hackers are continually looking for ways to hack into bank accounts online. PayPal, an international means of paying for purchases online, offers this advice to computer shoppers:

 



• Install and use anti-virus programs

 



• Run anti-virus software to check incoming e-mails

 



• Update the virus definitions frequently

 



• Never share passwords

 



• Keep passwords unique

 



• Don't share personal information via email

Identity theft victims should act quickly to avoid months of legal problems and financial loss. Contact the fraud departments of all major credit bureaus and get copies of credit reports. Everyone is entitled to one free copy per year.

Phone numbers for the bureaus are as follows: TransUnion, 1-800-680-7289; Equifax, 1-800-525-6285; Experian, 888-3977-3742.

Request that bureaus place a fraud alert on file. In addition, continue to monitor credit reports. File a police report as to when and where the identity thefts occurred, and document all contacts with banks and others that might be affected.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a standardized form that can be downloaded from its web site, or call 1-877-ID-THEFT.