The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office has issued several safety reminders to help ensure county residents have a safe holiday season. Dodge County Sheriff Jeff Hinson said, “Christmas is a special time of year for folks in Dodge County as they gather with their families and celebrate the birth of Jesus. However, unfortunately, at this time of the year also, thieves take advantage of people who are distracted by the seasons’ hustle and bustle.”
According to the sheriff, people should be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when they leave home, even if they are only going to be gone for a few minutes. People should not display Christmas gifts where they can easily be seen from a window or doorway. Holiday decorations should not impede a clear vision of your property or the address numbers displayed on homes and/or mailboxes.
Sheriff Hinson went on to remind citizens when shopping to stay alert to their surroundings. Thieves target people by snatching purses or “pick-pocketing” inattentive shoppers. People should always carry their purses snugly against their body and always carry your purse closed.
People should carry wallets in their front pants pocket or in a coat pocket. Citizens should not carry large amounts of cash on their person.
While checking out at cash registers, make sure to promptly collect your credit/debit cards, checkbooks and licenses and always retain your receipt. People should choose an ATM that is in safe and well lighted area.
Thieves often steal unattended packages which are delivered to homes. Sheriff Hinson said that people should request a signature confirmation of delivery on all packages. By doing this the deliverer will have to wait until you are available or deliver the package to a neighbor. People can have packages delivered to their work addresses if their employer allows personal deliveries. Most shipping companies now offer online tracking of packages, which allows one to see when a package arrives at a destination. This can allow one to phone a neighbor to pick up the package when it arrives. In the alternative, you can request special delivery instructions such as having the carrier place the package at the back door so that the unattended package is out of sight from the public roadway.
Sheriff Hinson said there have been several well published stories of people being robbed at shopping centers in and around Macon or having their cars broken into. The sheriff went on to caution people to keep all car doors locked and windows up even while you are inside your vehicle. People should park as close to store’s doors as possible. People should also park in well-lit areas and remember where they parked their vehicle. If you must leave packages or merchandise in your vehicle, one should store those items out of sight, such as in a locked car trunk. People should have their vehicle’s keys in hand when exiting stores. Prior to approaching their vehicles, people should look around the area and not approach their vehicle if there are suspicious people near the vehicle. People should also look inside their vehicle before opening the door to get inside their vehicles.
Sheriff Hinson stated that if these simple safety tips are followed by Dodge County residents, then they will be less likely to become a crime victim.
Thieves perpetrate their crimes on the innocent by taking advantage of easy opportunities or easy targets. Thieves also tend to prey on people who are inattentive. Therefore, take precautions and be aware of your surroundings and your personal safety.
Remember JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!