Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

The holiday season is a time spent with family and friends, but it is also a time where criminals find easy prey in this season of giving.  In our ongoing efforts to keep our citizens from being victims,  the Prescott Valley Police Department is offering the following safety tips:

Do not leave packages in plain view.  Keep your vehicle secured and put your valuables in your trunk when possible. Provide a place on your porch for packages to be out of   view for opportunistic criminals driving by. 

- Use a credit card instead of a debit card.  Debit cards lack the consumer  protections that credit cards offer. If your account is compromised, you might be liable for a greater share of the loss than if you used a credit card. 

- Only do business with vendors who use secure websites. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Do your research on whoever you are buying from. 

- Keep a secure hold on your purse, credit cards and identity.  Don’t leave your purse unattended, even for a moment. Guard your identity as you would your purse. Criminals not only want your money, they want your identity. With it, they can use it to get credit and make purchases, sticking you with the bill.   Keep a close eye on your credit card activity so that you can quickly identify and report fraudulent activity. 

- Be cautious of strangers approaching you for any reason.  Many thieves will use different methods to distract you with the intention of taking your money or merchandise. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, especially when shopping at night or shopping alone.

Prescott Valley Police Department can be contacted at (928) 772-9267 for non-emergencies, 911 for emergencies. Yavapai County Silent witness is 1-800-932-3232.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!