Full Notification

WHAT: HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS

WHERE: City of San Luis Obispo

WHEN: Holiday Season

DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Captain Chris Staley


During the busy holiday season police departments across the nation tend to see an increase in property related thefts and compromised credit/debit cards. This time of giving often provides a target rich environment for thieves and scam artists. Often these crimes are preventable with simple precautions and being aware of your surroundings. Listed below are some recommended safety precautions individuals can take to protect their property and credit information.

Home Security
• When making purchases online be aware of when packages are delivered so they do not sit on your front porch to long. If you are going to be away from home during known delivery times, ask a neighbor to pick up your packages.
• When leaving for the day or out of town for an extended amount of time, ensure your home is secured prior to leaving. Common entry points include open windows and sliding glass doors.
• Good lighting around your home, especially motion detection lights, are often a deterrent for would be thieves.
• If you see something or someone suspicious in your neighborhood, let your neighbors know and contact your local police department.
• With all the new electronic devices given and received during the holiday season it is important to save the serial numbers related to the property. In the event you are a victim of theft, this information is helpful to law enforcement when recovering stolen property.

Vehicle Security
• Make sure your vehicle is locked at all times.
• When leaving valuable items in your vehicle place them in the trunk or under a car seat so they are not in plain sight.
• When out at night try and park in a well-lighted area.
• If possible park your vehicle in a garage at home.
• If parking in a driveway, make sure your vehicle is locked at night and do not leave valuable items in the car.


Debit/Credit Card Security
• Always review your account activity; either by way of reviewing monthly statements or by logging onto your financial institution’s on-line banking.
• When using an ATM, “tug” or pull on the card reader (location you insert your bank card), if the card reader comes off. Report it to the bank or police immediately.
• Never use “debit” function at a fuel pump dispenser. It is very common for devices to be installed that will retain your account information. Using all cards as “credit”, would alleviate the need to enter in your PIN code.
• Most financial institutions offer various notifications for certain types of transactions and various dollar amounts. Notifications include text and email messages for early detection of fraud.
• Report fraudulent activity conducted to your credit/debit card accounts to the respective financial institution immediately.
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