Steps You Can Take To Stay Safe This Holiday Season

The San Carlos bureau of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office has provided residents with a holiday shopping crime alert.

The precaution discusses the increase of criminal activity that accompanies the holiday rush and offers a small checklist residents can follow to stay safe.

The San Carlos police say:

- Don't leave items in plan view in your vehicle. Such as navigation devices, their docking ports and chargers. Unplug these items, remove them from your dash or windshield and put them in you glove box. This goes for cellular phones and their chargers.

- Think ahead. Don't park, get out and put items in your trunk. Thefts are always watching you. They watch you put valuables in your trunk and once you've walked away they simply defeat you door lock, find your trunk release and make off with your property. Stop before you get to your final destination and put your items in your trunk. That way when you get to where you're going, no one sees you putting your items in your trunk.

- Lastly, the easiest and most overlooked; simply lock you vehicle! Criminals pray on the naivety of others. Be proactive when it comes to protecting your property.

Don’t become an easy victim this holiday season!