7 Holiday Shopping Safety Tips You Need to Know

Crimes such as retail crimes and robbery can increase as much as 30% during the holiday season.

That’s because criminals know that holiday shoppers present the perfect opportunity. You’ll need to get some holiday shopping safety tips so you can get through the holidays without any issues.

Do you want to know how to stay safe during the holidays?

Check out these holiday shopping tips that will show you how to stay safe and secure.

1. Be Present to Your Surroundings

One of the things that criminals look for is someone who looks lost and in their own world. When you’re out holiday shopping, you’re likely to be distracted and stressed out.

Think about how many times you couldn’t remember where you parked because you were thinking about the 20 other things you have to take care of. That mindlessness could make you a target for robbers when you try to go back to your car.

You’re in a vulnerable position because you’re looking around for your car and your hands are full.

The way to combat that is to take a moment as soon as you park. Take a deep breath and make a mental note of your surroundings. When you park your car, you may use an app that will tell you where you parked your car.

2. Shop with Someone

One other thing that makes you a target for criminals is being alone. A criminal is unlikely to take on two people, but they will be more than happy to try to rob one person.

If you’re going to be out holiday shopping, take someone with you for support. Ideally, it won’t be someone that you’re buying for. If you feel unsafe walking back to your car, check with the store to see if you can get someone like a security guard to assist you to your car.

3. Shop During the Day

Another thing you can do to protect yourself is to shop during the day. Criminals are active at all times, but they’re more likely to be looking for targets to rob after dark because they can’t be seen as well.

If you are going to shop alone, it’s best to do it during the day. If you’re going at night, especially later at night, then be sure to have someone with you.

4. Keep Your Car Clear

Shopping safely isn’t just about keeping your personal self safe. You want to prevent your car from getting broken into as well. The best way to do that is to not give thieves a reason to break into your car. If a thief looks in your car and sees packages in the back seat, they’ll be gone in 5 minutes.

You want to make sure that you have nothing of value visible from the outside of your car. Even if you have dark window tinting, remove all valuables out of sight.

You may want to stick them in the trunk, but a thief could randomly pop open your trunk and take what’s in there. The best thing you can do is to take what you purchase to your home, unload the car, and go out again.

It can be time-consuming, but it’s better than having a lot of goods stolen from your car.

5. Shop Online

Shopping online can be a great way to stay safe while holiday shopping. You don’t need to deal with crowds or worry about having to protect yourself all of the time.

That’s probably a reason why ecommerce sales increased by 20% on Black Friday this past year. It’s convenient and the sales are just as good online as they are braving the cold and the long lines.

For example, a site like cbdoilusers.com has coupon codes for CBD oil products. It’s a great way to get your holiday shopping started without leaving home.

6. Know When Packages Will Get Delivered

As more people are shopping online, thieves see another type of opportunity to make money. This is something that you need to be aware of because you could be a target of theft. Porch pirates are people who steal packages off of people’s porches after they’ve been delivered.

There are a few ways to prevent yourself from being targeted. The first step is to know when the package is going to be delivered. If you have to be at work, you can redirect shipping to have it picked up at a shipping location.

FedEx, UPS, and USPS all have offices that allow you to pick up packages. This could be a better option for you because your package isn’t going to sit on the porch for a long period of time, giving thieves plenty of time to snag it.

You could also have your package delivered to your office or request a signature for delivery.

7. Check Your Credit Report Often

The other way thieves take advantage of holiday shopping is that they will breach your online retailer’s database and grab your credit card information.

The more you shop online, the more you need to keep an eye on your credit report and bank account. There are fraudulent transactions that happen every day.

If you see unusual activity, make sure that you report it right away. You could wind up responsible for fraudulent charges if you wait to handle them. You could also have negative marks on your credit report.

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

When you’re holiday shopping, it’s easy to think about everything else but your safety. These holiday shopping safety tips will keep you, your credit, and your belongings safe throughout the holiday season.

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