A season to be merry — and wary

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — for car thieves, counterfeiters, shoplifters, and scammers. This month, two unlocked cars with keys inside were stolen in Westport; a 24-year-old was charged with identity theft in Norwalk; phony 20-dollar bills turned up at a Starbucks in Greenwich, and $2,000 in cash was swiped from an unlocked car in North Haven.

Elsewhere in the region, thieves made off with a BMW and a Mercedes, both unlocked with the keys left inside; a man and a woman stole a money clip containing $1,600 from a Whole Foods checkout line, and a couple took a five-finger-discount tour of Walmart.

And there are still 25 shoplifting days until Christmas.

It’s the hap-happiest season of all — for porch pirates, robbers, and pickpockets.

Identity theft, drunk driving, vehicle theft, robbery, home burglary, and sexual assault are among the most common holiday crimes.

It’s no mystery why this is so. More online transactions mean more opportunities for fraud. Crowds of distracted shoppers, wallets heavy with credit cards and cash, are prime targets for pickpockets and purse snatchers. Parking lots are ideal for thieves who tail shoppers to their cars to drop off purchases before heading back out to buy more. Packages left on porches in residential neighborhoods are tantamount to lowhanging fruit.

Seasonal crime may be a fact of life, but it needn’t ruin the holidays. Common sense can make all the difference. Avoid dimly lit parking lots. Don’t leave packages or other valuables in plain sight. Lock them in the trunk, or better yet, bring them into the house. Keep wallets in front pockets; wear purses cross-body, zippers zipped.

Unless you have a remote starter, don’t leave your car running unattended to warm up. Lock doors and turn on alarms. And how many times do the police have to say it before people stop leaving their keys in their cars?

Make a pact with your neighbors to watch out for one another. If you see a box on a porch, chances are a thief will see it too. Notify your neighbor and move it out of sight. Turn outside lights on at night, keep an eye out for loiterers, and report suspicious activity to the police.

When shopping online with mobile devices, use secure systems as opposed to public Wi-Fi connections. Update antivirus software. Check your bank and credit card statements for fraudulent transactions. Verify websites and look for the lock symbol and “https” in the web address. Avoid links sent by email. Consider using prepaid cards or cash.

Enjoy the festivities, but go easy on alcohol. Drunk driving spikes this time of year. So does sexual assault. There’s a correlation between the two. Impaired judgment tends to put people in harm’s way, another good reason to stay sober.

For all that, the holidays are still a magical time, provided you keep your wits about you. As long as you’re wary, go ahead and make merry.

Crowds of distracted shoppers, wallets heavy with credit cards and cash, are prime targets for pickpockets and purse snatchers.