November 27, 2023

The holiday shopping season is in full swing and unfortunately, it’s also the time of year when a higher number of thefts can occur. Whether its items stolen out of your car or your home, crimes that threaten your personal safety, or crimes that could involve you being the victim of a scam, there are ways you can protect yourself and prevent them from happening.  

Officer Stephen Loar with the Perrysburg Police Division has spent numerous hours training on how to educate citizens about reducing crime, the fear of crime, and criminal opportunity. He says to remember the five D’s: Deny, deter, delay, detect, and devalue. 

“Deny refers to denying any chance of entry into your car or home or the possibility of someone committing a crime against you,” said Officer Loar. “The ways you can do that are by deterring crime by setting up cameras inside and outside of your home. Delaying the crime by locking your doors or using deadbolt locks to slow the criminal down. Detecting the crime by making sure your home security system is in working order. And devaluing the crime by putting away or keeping any valuables or high-priced items out of sight.” 

Another way to remember how to protect yourself and your property is to think about the Crime Triangle.  

“The Crime Triangle identifies three factors of equal importance that create a criminal offense,” said Officer Loar. “If any one element is missing, the crime will not occur.” 

By removing opportunity, the risk of being a victim can be reduced. Remember, awareness is the key to your safety. Officer Loar offers these safety tips to remember not only during the holidays but also throughout the entire year: 

Safety at Home: 

• Always lock your doors and windows. Criminals look for houses with easy entry. 
• Secure garage access. Many high value items are stored within. And interior doors should be as secure as your front door. 
• Make sure your security system’s door and window sensors allow for automatic notification of entry. Cameras may capture a crime in progress. 
• The exterior of your home should be well lit. Criminals prefer low-light environments. 
• Landscaping should be maintained to minimize areas where criminals can hide. You should also maintain a clear line of sight from your street to your home to allow for easy detection of suspicious activity. 

Vacation notice is available to all City of Perrysburg residents. If you are leaving for a few days, police will enter information about your house into their database. In the event of an emergency, the police division will notify the people you have designated to help check your house. Contact the Perrysburg Police Division at 419-872-8001 to put your home on vacation notice. 

Personal Safety: 

• Be aware of your surroundings while walking in and out of parking lots. Walk with confidence and minimize distractions like cell phone usage and headphones. 
• Park in well-lit areas. Have your keys ready and check the back seat before you get into your vehicle. 
• Secure personal items. Keep your purse under your control at all times, avoid displaying large amounts of cash, and don’t leave valuable items in your vehicle.
• While shopping from store-to-store, do not leave bags in plain sight in your vehicle. Put them in your trunk or underneath the seat or a blanket to keep thieves from being tempted to break-in.
• Always lock your vehicle doors even if you are running quickly in and out of a store. 
• If shopping after daylight, park near a light if possible and shop with a friend or family member.
• Avoid cell phone cases that house your ID, cash and/or cards. If you lose your phone or accidentally leave it somewhere, the result can be much worse than just a lost phone.
• If you are ride sharing, safety is in numbers. Share your location with friends and family. Don’t overshare personal information with your driver and trust your gut. If anything seems off about the driver, don’t get in, or end the ride as soon as you are in a safe place. 
• If you think you are being followed, call 911. 

Scam Awareness: 

Beware of scams that criminals commit to take advantage of people’s generosity during the holidays. If you get a phone call from someone looking for donations and they start asking for things such as a bank account number, credit card number or your social security number, do not give them your personal information and hang up. It’s also a good idea to investigate charities before making donations and ask how the funds will be used. Other things to remember: 

• Scams can take many forms such as email, social media, telephone, letters, or door to door solicitors.  
• Be wary of anything that seems “too good to be true.” 
• Social media risks: Be cautious with the amount of personal information that you post.  
• Senior citizens are frequently targeted by scammers. It is estimated that scammers steal $2.9 billion from the elderly each year. 
• Red flags that you’re being scammed: If you are asked for secure information or if you’re being told to make a monetary payment using gift cards or electronic payment.  
• Always call the police if you are unsure if you’re being scammed. 

Online Shopping: 

• Use a credit card, not a debit card, when making online purchases. It is much easier to cancel a credit card than it is to get the money that was debited from your bank account. 
• Do not connect to free or unsecured Wi-Fi on your phone while shopping. This opens your phone up to being compromised or data that can enter through malware (malicious software). 
• Be sure to track your online packages and whenever possible, set deliveries up so that they arrive when you are home or have them delivered to a pick-up location.  
• If you can’t be home when a package is delivered, many delivery companies will allow you to give instructions on where to place your package. Give specific details in order to prevent them from being stolen from outside of your home.  

By following these safety tips, you can protect yourself and your family from being the victim of a crime and enjoy the holiday season. For more information or if you have any questions, contact the Perrysburg Police Division at 419-872-8001.