North Channel Sentinel - News
Personal safety a concern for holiday shoppers
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| The parking lot of the Circuit City on I-10 was full of shoppers taking advantage of "Black Friday," the shopping day after Thanksgiving when stores offer merchandise at low prices. Criminals also take advantage of the holiday shopping season, preying on individuals they intend to rob |
By MATT HOLLIS
Thanksgiving is over and shoppers are out in force looking for merchandise on sale at local stores. Shoppers took advantage of “Black Friday,” when shoppers line up in the early morning hours after Thanksgiving to find the best deals on gifts like 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 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.”
Mills himself was faced with an attempted robbery in 1980. He was working at his jewelry store on Houston’s north side late one night when two men slammed their car into the store with the intent of robbing it. Mills had to take matters into his own hand and shot and killed the two burglary suspects.
“After that I was quoted on the Paul Harvey Show saying a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged,” Mills said. “Some think guns are not safe. If you think so, wait until you face a criminal who has one and you look down the barrel of a gun.”
Shopping online is something that has become more popular in recent years. Although some may do so for fears of safety in the crowds, there apparently are a lot of other reasons to shop online.
“You can easily compare products online in the comfort of your own home,” said Jim Babb, Circuit City spokesperson. “You can also read customer reviews, do price shopping and have it shipped right to your home. Also, you can see if the product you want is in the store nearest to you. It is a good option for those who do not feel like fighting the mobs.”
Mills says it is better to shop for some items in person rather than online.
“I always tell people do not buy your jewelry in the same place you buy your underwear,” he said. “You can compare prices online, but that does not tell you the quality. People do not understand quality. They are taught to buy for the price, not the quality.”
Another concern that was on the minds of shoppers was the economy. Early indications show that the first weekend after Thanksgiving was not the economic disaster some had predicted. The idea of a predicted bad Christmas shopping season does not seem to worry some storeowners much.
“We do not make economic predictions,” Babb said. “We leave that to the economists and forecasters.”
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 a 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 e-mail
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.
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 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.”
Mills himself was faced with an attempted robbery in 1980. He was working at his jewelry store on Houston’s north side late one night when two men slammed their car into the store with the intent of robbing it. Mills had to take matters into his own hand and shot and killed the two burglary suspects.
“After that I was quoted on the Paul Harvey Show saying a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged,” Mills said. “Some think guns are not safe. If you think so, wait until you face a criminal who has one and you look down the barrel of a gun.”
Shopping online is something that has become more popular in recent years. Although some may do so for fears of safety in the crowds, there apparently are a lot of other reasons to shop online.
“You can easily compare products online in the comfort of your own home,” said Jim Babb, Circuit City spokesperson. “You can also read customer reviews, do price shopping and have it shipped right to your home. Also, you can see if the product you want is in the store nearest to you. It is a good option for those who do not feel like fighting the mobs.”
Mills says it is better to shop for some items in person rather than online.
“I always tell people do not buy your jewelry in the same place you buy your underwear,” he said. “You can compare prices online, but that does not tell you the quality. People do not understand quality. They are taught to buy for the price, not the quality.”
Another concern that was on the minds of shoppers was the economy. Early indications show that the first weekend after Thanksgiving was not the economic disaster some had predicted. The idea of a predicted bad Christmas shopping season does not seem to worry some storeowners much.
“We do not make economic predictions,” Babb said. “We leave that to the economists and forecasters.”
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 a 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 e-mail
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.
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