The holiday season is upon us and there are criminals out there who want to take advantage of the distractions that go along with the season.  The Romeoville Police Department would like to share some simple tips to help prevent the holiday blues.

WHILE SHOPPING IN PUBLIC:

• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash & take only credit cards you intend to use.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Lock your vehicle & keep packages & other valuables out of view.
• If you place newly bought packages in your vehicle and plan to continue to shop, secure them in the trunk or out of public view; and move your vehicle prior to returning to the store.
• Shop with a friend or in groups.
• Beware of pick-pockets and purse thieves. Keep your purse on you at all times. Do not place them in a shopping cart. It only takes a second for a thief to take your wallet from an open purse.
• Don’t be afraid to report suspicious circumstances to store employees, store security, or local police.

AT HOME:

• Make sure you house does not look empty.
• Lock doors & windows.
• If traveling, ask a neighbor to collect mail or stop mail for the duration of your trip. Use timers or other technology to turn lights off & on.
• If your home will be empty while traveling, Romeoville residents can request their home be put on the Vacation Watch List at the Romeoville Police Department.
• If shopping on line, do business with well known, reputable sites only. Use PayPal so your credit card number & other personal info is not shared with the seller.
• Monitor your deliveries with on-line tracking and try to have someone at home (if not you, a trusted neighbor) during the expected delivery time to accept the package.
• Do not fall for scams. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Research charitable organizations to ensure they are legitimate or only donate to well-known reputable organizations.
• Beware of phishing scams. The latest scam involves the scammer sending out notices stating there was a problem with your online order and they need to confirm the customer’s credit card information.
• Whenever possible, use a regular credit card for online purchases, not debit cards. Disputes for fraudulent purchases are easier to handle with credit cards than debit cards.