HS police offer holiday safety tips
With holiday shopping and other Christmas activities in full swing, the Hot Springs Police Department is offering tips on how people can ring in the season in a safe and crime-free manner.
“A lot of the time during this time of the year, criminals patrol the parking lots waiting for you to leave gifts, your purse, a computer, whatever is easily accessible in your car and it takes less than 30 seconds to break a window out, grab your stuff and then they’ll be gone,”
Hot Springs police Officer 1st Class Joey Williams, the department’s community relations officer, said Friday.
Williams said if any valuables are to be left in a vehicle, they should be relocated to the trunk and the vehicle should be locked. He also suggested parking in well-lighted areas near the front of a store where the vehicle is visible to surveillance cameras. When leaving a store, stop at the entryway and scan the parking lot, he said.
“Look around where your vehicle is at. Look for people who look out of place and things that are suspicious. Always trust your gut. If you walk out and you feel like someone is following you or there is someone hanging around your vehicle and you don’t feel comfortable, people need to know they can always call us and we will come to the parking lot, patrol the parking lot and stand by while you get in your car,” Williams said.
If traveling out of town, Williams warned against announcing the trip on social media or the duration of time away from the residence. He said residents should lock their doors and set their alarm system, noting they can also contact the department and sign up for the free house watch program while they are traveling.
“A police officer comes by several times a day and checks the windows, doors and shines a light around to make sure the house is secure. They log it with our dispatch center to make sure that the house is being checked. It is a free, easy tool to help keep your house protected,” Williams said.
He said residents should stop, or have a friend or relative pick up, any mail or newspaper deliveries for the duration of the trip to avoid the items piling up. Interior and exterior lights, such as Christmas lights, set on a timer can assist in making the residence look “lived-in,” he said.
“These people who commit crimes this time of the year are driving around neighborhoods looking for the newspapers piled up in the driveway, the mail piled up in the mailbox, the unmown grass, the house is dark 24/7,” Williams said.
The Arkansas Insurance Department advises finding out what a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy already covers and what is exempted. Some policies only cover electronics and expensive items up to a certain limit. An insurance rider or additional policy may be better suited to cover certain valuables, according to an AID news release.
“The holiday shopping season is supposed to be a happy one as we prepare to celebrate and fellowship with our friends and loved ones. Sadly, it is also a prime target for burglars, and it is important that Arkansans make sure they are protected by ensuring you have the proper coverage for the gifts being temporarily stored on their property,” Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr said in the release.
For renters, a renter’s insurance policy can cost between $15 and $30 per month. Warranties purchased at the register are not insurance and typically only cover in-store repair, not replacement. One should keep an inventory list of valuables, their serial numbers and receipts, it stated.
The AID and National Association of Insurance Commissioners offer a free smartphone application, myHOME Scr.APP.book, that makes the process of creating a home inventory quick and easy. It is available for download on iTunes and Google Play.