WICHITA (FoxKansas.com) -- Police in Wichita say they are proactively monitoring mall shopping lots and warning consumers that they could be hit by a Grinch if they aren't careful.
On Tuesday, several of the city's officers monitored parking lots at Towne East Square to look for situations where shoppers left themselves vulnerable to crime. In a post on the department's official Facebook page, police warned that shoppers should exercise common sense to stay safe.
"Hide your gifts in the trunk and make sure you lock your vehicle with the keys in your possession," the post said.
According to reports, this is the police department's fifth year of working to warn shoppers about the danger posed by criminals during the holiday season. During this time of year, many police departments across the nation will beef up enforcement around popular shopping centers, because they can be a magnet for criminal activity.
Law enforcement sources have several tips that can keep shoppers safe during the busy holiday shopping season:
- Park in a well lit area and try to park as close as possible to entrances while avoiding secluded spots.
- Make sure that shopping bags are in a trunk or otherwise obscured from view. The bags can tempt criminals looking for easy targets.
- When walking to the car from a store or mall, have your keys out. If it's late at night, ask a store security guard to accompany passengers to their vehicles.
- Shoppers should be aware of their surroundings when walking to their vehicles and not be distracted by cell phone conversations.
- Consumers should avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Credit or debit cards should be used.
- Shoppers should make sure that purses and wallets are never visible inside a parked car.
FoxKansas.com Staff Writer Alfred Charles contributed to this report. He can be reached at acharles@nptvgroup.com.
