Full Notification

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year; many stores have sales and will open at 12:01 a.m. to accommodate shoppers. Unfortunately, in their rush to score seasonal discounts, some holiday shoppers do not guard against identity theft and may be taken advantage of by opportunistic criminals.

Below are some suggestions to help you avoid becoming a victim of crimes of opportunity and other unfortunate incidents:

On the roads or in parking lots

• When backing out of a parking spot, be aware of waiting cars, others who are backing out at the same time and motorists who speed through lanes.
• Take note of exactly where you park your vehicle, which will help you avoid wandering around longer than necessary.
• Always lock your vehicle and activate your security system. The vast majority of vehicle break-ins reported to law enforcement do not involve forced entry; they occur to unlocked vehicles. Opportunistic thieves commonly pull on the door handles of multiple vehicles and only enter those that they find unlocked.  
• When shopping, keep gifts in the trunk or hidden from view in the interior of the car. Also, put all of your packages in the trunk before departing one parking lot and driving to another.
• Please avoid storing firearms in your vehicle, as stolen firearms are often later used in violent crimes.
• During the day, park away from buildings to reduce the chance of dings from car doors or shopping carts. At night, avoid secluded areas and park directly under lights whenever possible.

Inside the store

• Use a credit card to avoid theft of cash, which is irreplaceable. And whenever possible, swipe your own credit card and cover the keypad when entering your personal identification number—PIN.
• Shopping with a single credit card is ideal. It is easier to cancel one credit card—rather than several—should your wallet or purse be stolen.
• Keep your purse zipped or closed and close to your body. Never leave your purse unattended in a shopping cart, as it will take just seconds for a thief to steal it.
• Keep a list of account and phone numbers for all of your credit cards in a safe place at home.
• If possible, carry keys, cash and credit cards separately from each other.
• For freedom of movement and clear visibility, do not overload yourself with bags when leaving a store and returning to your car. It is difficult to defend yourself when you are burdened with lots of packages.
• Only use Automated Teller Machines—ATMs—in populated, well-lit locations.
• Remember there is increased safety in numbers. Avoid walking alone and leave malls and stores well before closing time to ensure a more active parking lot. If you do not feel safe, ask security to walk you to your vehicle.

Traveling over the holidays

• If you are traveling over the holidays, let trusted family members or neighbors know of your plans. Ask them to stop by your home and check on it regularly.
• Leave some exterior and interior lights on and, if possible, leave a vehicle in your driveway. Making it look like someone is home is an effective burglary deterrent. 

And as always, we ask that if you “See Something, Say Something,” please report suspicious activity to 9-1-1 immediately.

Sheriff P. J. Tanner and the men and women of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office would like to wish our residents and guests a happy and safe Thanksgiving Day and holiday season.

We appreciate your partnership and continued commitment to the safety of our community.