Deputies increasing patrols for holiday shopping season

By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department is increasing patrols at local shopping centers to protect holiday shoppers and reminding residents to be proactive in crime prevention.

sheriff patchThe department’s Holiday Watch begins this week and continues through early next year. It includes more patrols by uniformed and undercover deputies in various settings, including neighborhoods, malls, trolleys, Coaster, parking lots and other “hot spots” for criminal activity, according to a department press release distributed on Monday. These include shopping areas in Poway and 4S Ranch.

“Criminals do not take the holidays off and neither will our deputies,” said Sheriff Bill Gore.

In Poway, there will be extra patrols at Walmart to coincide with its Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday specials. The additional deputies will be on site from 3:45 p.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday.

Shoppers will likely also notice bicycle patrols in the Target, Costco and Walmart parking lots in Poway on Nov. 30, Dec. 20 and Jan. 2.

In 4S Ranch there will be extra patrols in the 4S Commons Town Center and 4S Ranch Village Center on Thanksgiving Day plus from Dec. 1 through Christmas Eve.

In addition to the extra shopping center patrols, the department’s crime prevention specialists and Senior Volunteer Patrol members will be distributing holiday safety information and brochures throughout the holiday season in 4S Ranch neighborhoods. At the Poway Walmart, there will be a crime prevention booth starting at 11 a.m. on Jan. 5.

Some of the tips to lower the chance that you become a crime victim while shopping include shopping during the day and with a friend, being aware of one’s surroundings, not overloading your arms with packages and bags, parking in well-lit areas, having your keys out and ready when approaching your vehicle and being aware of how you carry your purse or wallet so it cannot easily be snatched. In addition, when at malls and stores be sure to lock vehicle doors, take valuables with you and when storing purchases in a vehicle, place them out of sight, ideally inside a locked trunk.

Shopping centers are not the only places where people need to be proactive, officials said. Residents need to lock their doors and windows at home, especially at night and when away. The Sheriff’s department is also reminding people to avoid opening doors to strangers and advising them to not place gifts where they can be seen from outside their home. After opening presents, do not pile the empty boxes outside since it gives burglars a hint of expensive new items you have. Instead, keep boxes inside until the night before garbage pickup.

The department is offering free security checks to point out your home’s vulnerabilities. To request the service, contact a crime prevention specialist by calling the Poway Sheriff’s Station at 858-513-2800 or the 4S Ranch Substation at 858-521-5200. More information is also available at

www.sdsheriff.net/patrol

.

If going away for the holidays, lock your home, activate your alarm if you have one and do not share your plans on social media. Place a hold on mail and newspaper delivery or ask a trusted friend to pick it up. You can also ask a neighbor to occasionally park in your driveway. The Senior Volunteer Patrol conducts free vacation checks of homes. To sign up, go to www.sdsheriff.net or go to your local station.

As for other crime prevention activities conducted by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department in the coming month, they include DUI patrols in Poway on Dec. 13, 20, 27 and 31. Deputies will also be conducting a DUI checkpoint in Poway on Dec. 13 and 31.

Deputies will also be checking on parolees and probationers to ensure they are complying with the conditions of their release, according to department officials.

Anyone who sees suspicious activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s non-emergency line at 858-565-5200.