Holiday shopping tips

Avoid accidents, theft and other holiday shopping pitfalls by reading this list and checking it twice.

When the busiest shopping weekend of the year arrives, if you'll be one of the millions of holiday shoppers, take some extra precautions with your personal information and purchases to protect yourself during the holiday. Be sure to check out these holiday savings tips too before you shop.

Safe shopping

From fistfights to identity theft, shopping during the holidays brings a few safety risks. Consider these holiday shopping safety tips:

• Keep your purse close to your body or your wallet in an inside coat pocket or front pants pocket.
• Don't argue or fight over an item.
• Don't take your money out until asked and don't flash a lot of cash.
• Use only one credit card. Data breaches have occurred in the past at major retailers and credit card companies. Should something similar occur, you can reduce the risk of having multiple cards compromised.
• Save your receipts and monitor your credit card activity by reviewing your bill immediately or periodically checking the online app.
• Ask for help moving and loading large items if needed.
• If shopping with children, select a central location to meet in case you are separated. Teach kids how to ask a security guard or employee for help if they're lost.

How can I be safer in the car?

With so many people out and about, you may encounter aggressive drivers on the road. Don't add to the problem: Remember to drive defensively and don't allow road rage to rise. Parking lots can be dangerous too, so be on guard:

• Be patient when looking for a parking space. Don't speed up to catch that empty (or soon-to-be empty) spot and be cautious of other drivers who do.
• Park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
• Don't leave anything valuable in your car.
• Lock your vehicle.
• Make a mental note of where you parked.
• Have your keys in hand when walking back to your vehicle.
• Look around and under your vehicle before approaching it.
• Store shopping bags out of plain sight, in your trunk if possible.
• Look for other cars or people, and back out slowly.

The Norwalk Police would like to remind the community to please lock your cars and take your fobs wherever you may be. During the holiday season theft from autos increases. Criminals know you may have gifts in your car while you shop, especially if they are visible; as well as purses and wallets. If possible, please place your items of value in your trunk while you are away from your car and remember to lock it.

Mail Theft during the holidays

Mail theft is on the rise, and the holiday season is of special interest to criminals, who frequently check mailboxes and your front doors for envelopes and packages left unattended. Please empty your mailboxes as soon as possible daily and bring in your packages. Please report mail theft to the Norwalk Police and The United States Post office Postal Inspector at (877)8762455 and WWW.USPIS.GOV. Don’t give criminals the chance