Take steps to prevent holiday crimes

One of the reasons why many people love Christmas is because it’s a season of giving. Sadly, it’s also a time of year when other people are looking for ways of taking merchandise or money from unsuspecting victims through criminal activities.

A recent incident in Mentor served as an important reminder that the Christmas season brings with it abundant opportunities to commit several different kinds of thefts.

One such crime is stealing packages, often containing Christmas gifts, that are delivered to homes when residents are away. Over the past few years as online holiday shopping has become more and more popular, there’s been an increase in reports of packages being stolen, Lake County Sheriff Daniel Dunlap said.

On Dec. 5, Mentor police arrested an adult and juvenile in connection with the theft of packages from homes in the city.

According to a Mentor Police Department Facebook post:

Police received a call from a witness who observed a male child steal a package off the front porch of a home on Jeremy Avenue. The juvenile returned to a red Toyota Corolla and the vehicle drove away.

Officers stopped the car and met with the driver, 18-yearold Corey Whalen of Kirtland. Inside the vehicle were 21 packages of items, with $1,200 worth of merchandise. The shipping labels on the packages showed that the items were stolen from other homes in the general area.

Also recovered from the vehicle were marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia. Lake County Sheriff’s Office has joined the investigation because of similar incidents occurring in its jurisdiction.

Whalen is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, marijuana possession, possessing marijuana paraphernalia, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The 10-year-old boy with Whalen was referred to Lake County Juvenile Court.

Regarding this specific incident, Whalen, and the juvenile, will get the chance to appear in separate courts to answer the charges they are facing. They are innocent until proven guilty.

Perhaps in a broader context, this incident illustrates how people who have packages delivered to their homes, at times they’re likely to be away, leave themselves in a position to become crime victims. And during the Christmas season, when a lot of gifts are being dropped off outside of homes by delivery services, thieves know that many crimes of opportunity are within easy reach.

Fortunately, there are some simple steps to take to deter package thieves.

Wickliffe Lt. Pat Hengst said if you’re expecting a package, make sure someone is home to receive it, or have a neighbor keep an eye out for it. People can also ask the package to be delivered to a back door, he said.

While on the subject of Christmas crime prevention, it’s also important to never leave gifts or packages unattended in a vehicle, in plain view. This rule should be followed even if you’re leaving your locked car to make a quick stop at home or another store. After all, it doesn’t take a thief long to smash a car window and grab any loose valuables stored inside.

If you must leave gifts or packages in your vehicle unattended, lock them up in the trunk, so perpetrators won’t be unnecessarily tempted.

With a greater number of shoppers out and about during the season, purses also are a popular target for thieves.

Willowick had a recent case of a purse being stolen.

According to the police department, on Nov. 20 they received a report from an elderly woman who said her purse has snatched as she was putting grocery bags into her car in the parking lot of the Marc’s at the Shoregate Shopping Plaza.

Willowick police offer several tips to help discourage potential purse snatchers:

• Leave your purse at home. Carry necessary items (ID and money) in a wallet, tucked safely in your pocket. If you don’t have pockets and/or there are additional items you prefer to carry, such as makeup, keys, and a phone, consider putting them in a bag that wraps around your stomach and can be hidden from view, or a backpack strapped around both shoulders so that it can’t easily be snatched.

• Bring only what you need. Don’t carry more cash or credit cards than you absolutely need to do your shopping that day. • Walk in busy, well-lit areas. • Hold your purse tightly and close to your body, whether on a bus, train, or walking. If possible, wear it underneath a coat or jacket. Also, secure the latch or zipper.

• Shorten the strap on your purse so you can carry it tightly between your elbow and body.

So keep these crime prevention tips in mind and put them into action to make sure your Christmas season is not only merry, but also safe.