Distracted shoppers and holiday visitors may become a target of criminals looking to bypass the long lines and go straight to the back seat of someone’s car.
Rockingham Police Chief Robert Voorhees stresses that people take precautions to protect themselves and their property during the final days of the holiday season.
“First, never go shopping alone, always have a buddy with you,” Voorhees said. “For the females: Don’t carry your pocketbook with you. Keep your wallet on your person.”
He also said that people should make sure they don’t leave items in unattended shopping carts.
“Stay in well lit areas,” Voorhees said. “If you don’t feel right or strange, seek out a security guard or look for police officers.”
According to a press release from Attorney General Roy Cooper, make sure to shop during day light hours whenever possible.
“Remember that criminals and scammers don’t take a holiday,” the press release said. “Always be aware of your surroundings and protect your wallet and access to your credit or debit cards when in public. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.”
Capt. Vic McCaskill with the Rockingham Fire Department said this time of year the fire department responds traditionally to more kitchen fires and fires sparked by unattended candles.
McCaskill said there are several things to keep in mind around the holidays.
When decorating the Christmas tree:
Make sure to use surge protectors to avoid overloading circuits and blowing fuses.
Make sure lights are properly working and have no frayed wires.
Keep plenty of water in live Christmas trees and likewise keep combustibles away from all decorations.
Candles tend to be lit more around the holiday, so make sure to blow out candles when leaving the room.
When cooking:
Turn off stoves when not being used.
Make sure the kitchen is attended at all times.
If not cooking, stay out of the kitchen unless need be. It can pose a danger to those in the kitchen and those around.
Keep a three-foot buffer between people cooking and people not. If something were to catch fire or spill, it would injure multiple people instead of just one.
Keep pot handles turned in to avoid spilling.
Additionally, deep frying turkeys are becoming more and more commonplace and to ensure the turkey is the only thing crispy, McCaskill recommends that would-be chefs create a clear area around the fryer.
Also, make sure not to cook on a deck or near a home and to have the fryer on lever ground to avoid spillage.
“Just make sure the cooker is in safe hands,” McCaskill said.
Staff writer Bryan Stewart can be reached at 997-3111 ext. 15 or by e-mail at bstewart@yourdailyjournal.com.
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