MCTX Sheriff Shopping Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX -- The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office wishes you a safe and happy holiday season. So, to assist you with that, here are some ways to keep safety at the top of your holiday shopping list.

• Take a friend or family member with you.
• Keep car doors locked and set your car alarm.
• Look for other cars or people in parking lots, and back out of parking spaces slowly.
• Save your receipts and monitor your credit card activity.
• Don't argue or fight over an item.
• If shopping with children, select a central location to meet in case you are separated. Teach kids how to identify and ask a security guard or employee for help if they're lost.
• Ask store security to escort you to your vehicle if you feel uneasy.
• Report ANY suspicious activity immediately.

For those who don't like to deal with the crowds and would prefer to shop online for the holidays, make sure to only use trusted sites that will encrypt important personal information. While online shopping is convenient, it sadly can make you an easy target for identity theft.

Once you order all your holiday gifts, don't let those boxes pile up at your door. Make arrangements for deliveries when someone is home to receive them or ask a neighbor to pick up the package. That way it will be kept safe and out of the hands of criminals.

Sheriff Rand Henderson states, “As the holiday shopping season approaches I want to remind all citizens and visitors to Montgomery County to be vigilant when shopping. We will be stepping up patrols around major shopping areas, but please follow our important safety tips and remember to report suspicious activity immediately.”