Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

The holiday season is always a special time of year. It is also a time when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. We can never be too careful, too prepared or too aware.

Here are some simple tips that may help keep you safe as you shop this holiday season.

• Dress Down
  Dress casually and comfortably. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

• Shop Together
  Shop with friends and family. Try not to shop alone, especially at night.

• Watch Purses and Wallets
  Hold purses close to your body or use a front pocket if carrying a wallet. A fanny pack works very well.

• Avoid Cash
  Never flash large amounts of money. Try to use checks or credit cards instead of cash.

• Use Credit Cards Safely
  Beware of identity theft and keep receipts safe. Record credit card numbers at home and guard PIN numbers. Learn more tips about Identity Theft.

• Educate Your Kids
  Teach your kids or grand kids what to do if you get separated. Tell them to find a store clerk or security person.

• Park Smart
  Park close to the store. Avoid dark and secluded areas. Keep your car doors locked and the windows closed. Never leave your keys in the car. Be aware of suspicious cars and people. Learn more about preventing Vehicle Theft and Burglary.

• Hide Packages
  Store packages in the trunk of the car or cover them with a blanket or jacket on the floor in the back seat. Never leave them visible inside the car.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department wishes you a safe, happy, peaceful and crime free holiday season!

If you have any further questions regarding Holiday Shopping Safety Tips, please contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Department at (760) 836-1600.

Don't Fire Guns In The Air!

The men and women of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department are asking our community to celebrate the holiday season safely and responsibly. Do not fire guns in the air!

Most individuals involved with celebrating the holidays with gunfire do not realize the danger and potential consequences of their actions.

Think about the following . . .

• Researchers report that a bullet fired into the air can climb more than a mile in the air and remain in flight for almost a full minute. As the bullet falls back to the ground it can reach a velocity of up to 300 feet per second. A velocity of only 180 feet per second is sufficient to cause serious injury or death.

• Shooting a gun into the air is a felony. If you are arrested for doing so, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and you can spend up to one year in prison. If a stray bullet from your gun should kill someone, you will be arrested and charged with murder.

• In an effort to reduce property damage, injuries and the potential of death - associated with indiscriminate gunfire - the men and women of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department are compelled to ask our community to act responsibly. Don’t fire guns into the air! If you ever see someone committing such acts, please call the police.

• Remember, what goes up will come down and when a bullet comes down it is traveling at a fatal velocity.