Holiday Safety and Crime Prevention

Editor:

As the holiday season approaches, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind residents to remain vigilant in protecting themselves and their property. The holidays are a time for family, celebration, and giving, but unfortunately, they also present an opportunity for criminals to take advantage of people during this busy and distracted time of year.

Throughout the holiday season, we often see an increase in thefts, scams, and other criminal activity. Thieves know that many families are out of town or have gifts and valuables in their homes. Additionally, scammers often target unsuspecting individuals with fraudulent holiday deals, fake charities, and phishing schemes.

Here are a few tips to help ensure you and your loved ones stay safe this season:

1. Lock Your Doors and Windows: Whether you’re at home or away, make sure your home is secure. Consider installing motion-sensor lights, and or cameras around your property.

2. Beware of Delivery Scams: Scammers often send fake emails or text messages about missed deliveries or non-delivery notifications, attempting to trick you into clicking on a link or providing personal information. To avoid these scams, never click on a link in an unexpected delivery message. Instead, go directly to the official website of the delivery service and use any tracking number provided to verify the delivery status.

3. Dispose of Gift Boxes Carefully: After the holidays, avoid leaving boxes from expensive items, like electronics, in plain view outside your home. Visible packaging can signal to criminals that valuable items are inside. Instead, break down boxes and conceal them in bags or bins before setting them out for trash collection.

4. Report Suspicious Activity: If you see something out of the ordinary in your neighborhood, don’t hesitate to report it to the Sheriff’s Office. Your observations could help prevent a crime.

5. Keep Gifts Out of Sight: Avoid leaving gifts or valuables in plain view from outside your home or vehicle.

6. Watch Your Credit Card Statements: Monitor your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions, and report them immediately.

The Cedar County Sheriff’s Office is committed to keeping our community safe year-round, but we rely on you, the residents, to help us by staying informed and aware. Together, we can help prevent crime during the holidays and ensure a safe, peaceful season for all.

Stay safe, and happy holidays from all of us at the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office!

Sincerely, Clay Jeffries

Chief Deputy, Cedar County Sheriff’s Office