Holiday Safety
During the holidays, especially winter and fall holidays, we tend to dine, shop, and socialize at later times of day; therefore, it is critical that we observe the following:
Banking/ATM Safety
Be cautious about letting uninvited guests into your home it's always best to not let them inside your home.
Holiday Shopping Safety
As often as is possible, shop with others as there is safety in numbers. You are much safer transporting purchases--either in you car, on foot, coming from public transportation--in the company of trusted others. For more shopping safety tips, please see the Safety Tips web page of the Community Safety tab on this web site.
Mail/Package Delivery Safety
We have had problems in South Seattle with thieves following delivery trucks and stealing packages left on porches. If you witness someone doing this please, clearly observe and write down descriptions of the thieves, their vehicle(s), etc.--refer to the Calling 9-1-1 web page of the Reporting Crimes tab on this web site for more explicit instruction--and call 9-1-1 to report "a crime in progress." The following tips will help you avoid problems with mail and package delivery:
Banking/ATM Safety
- Trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings, particularly at night
- Be aware of those hanging about an ATM--consider using an ATM in a grocery store or at a shopping mall
- Report suspicious people/things to bank personnel, security, or police
- Memorize your PIN number(s) or mask PINs as addresses, phone numbers, etc. if these must be written on paper
- Keep ATM/bank/credit/debit cards physically separate from PIN numbers--especially if you carry
- Withdraw only as much cash as needed and only count cash at the ATM--don't walk with cash and/or card visible
- Place ATM/bank/credit card back in pocket or wallet before leaving ATM
Be cautious about letting uninvited guests into your home it's always best to not let them inside your home.
- Don't display your Christmas tree and gifts in your front window(s)--move these away from easy curb/porch view
- Install an inexpensive exterior electrical outlet for holiday lights--don't leave doors/windows unlocked to plug in lights
- Create guest lists for events/parties--you or a designee should greet everyone at the door
- Before events/parties, put away personal items, portable and important things; its harder to steal something unseen
- Avoid allowing uninvited people to your parties/events as you do not want strangers in your home at these times
- Lock windows and doors at all times even if you expect multiple arrivals of guests to your home
- Serve alcohol responsibly--no one under 21 should drink and you should know who will be designated drivers
- Discourage excessive drinking--make arrangements to shelter those to drunk to drive or get to their own homes
Holiday Shopping Safety
As often as is possible, shop with others as there is safety in numbers. You are much safer transporting purchases--either in you car, on foot, coming from public transportation--in the company of trusted others. For more shopping safety tips, please see the Safety Tips web page of the Community Safety tab on this web site.
Mail/Package Delivery Safety
We have had problems in South Seattle with thieves following delivery trucks and stealing packages left on porches. If you witness someone doing this please, clearly observe and write down descriptions of the thieves, their vehicle(s), etc.--refer to the Calling 9-1-1 web page of the Reporting Crimes tab on this web site for more explicit instruction--and call 9-1-1 to report "a crime in progress." The following tips will help you avoid problems with mail and package delivery:
- Should you plan to be away from your home, arrange for the Post Office to hold your mail or
- Have a trusted neighbor get your daily mail and any deliveries from your home or
- Have package deliveries held for you at the sender's location
- Alert merchants/shippers that you require a signature for all package deliveries
- Have deliveries made to a work address--even if you're in town--to reduce the likelihood of home delivery theft
- Alert your Block Watch captain and/or trusted neighbor(s) when you're out of town so that they may watch your home
- Don't leave descriptive messages on answering machines or on doors announcing that you're out of town
- Ask your neighbors to call 911 if they see any suspicious activity in or around your home
- Don't leave a extra key under your doormat and make sure all windows and doors are locked before leaving home
- Recycle packaging by breaking down boxes flat, turning them inside-out to hide exterior writing
- Wait until recycling collection day, if possible, to put recyclable packaging on street curb