Some good Advice for Holiday Safety

Holiday safety tips With the holiday season underway, Aliso Viejo Police Services is reminding the public to remember the following safety tips: * Always lock your vehicle and remove all of your valuable property, especially your holiday gifts, while parked anywhere - even in your garage. Vehicle burglaries occur during this season because many people drop off their purchased gifts to their car and go back into the store for more shopping, leaving their vehicles and gifts unattended. * Always take your purse or wallet with you - never leave it in your car. Use a shoulder-strap purse to prevent your purse being taken from a shopping cart, counter or the floor by a thief. * To prevent the theft of packages being delivered to your home when you're not there, request from the company you are ordering from or shipper that USPS, UPS or FedEx requires your signature before your packages are delivered. Or, if possible, request that USPS, UPS or FedEx hold your packages for pickup at their nearest location. This is one way to avoid them from being stolen from your front porch. * Burglars know that a holiday tree showcased in the front window means presents will be underneath it. Close your blinds while you are away from home and reinforce all of your windows and sliding doors with additional locks. * Keep your garage door closed at all times to prevent thefts from your garage, vehicle or home. Also, remove the garage door remote when you park in your driveway or on the street. * If you go out of town for a holiday vacation, make your house look "lived in." Have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail and newspaper every day. Place timers on different lamps, TVs and radios throughout the house at different days and times to give the illusion of an occupied home. Also, take advantage of the free vacation checks offered by Aliso Viejo Police Services. To arrange for one, call 949-425-2563. * When shopping online, consider using a third-party service such as disposable credit card or PayPal to pay for purchases. This protects your personal credit card information, reducing the risk of fraud. * To avoid being a victim of a charity scam, never give out personal information including credit card and bank account details, especially over the phone. If you want to give this holiday season, contact the charity of your choice to find out how you can donate to their cause. * If an offer, product or service sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don't fall for the scam. * Keep your credit card receipts in a safe place and review your credit card, ATM card or checking account statements for activity that may indicate fraud or identity theft. If you are a victim of fraud or identity theft, call the credit reporting agencies to put an alert on your accounts and call the Sheriff's non-emergency line at 949-770-6011 to report it. * Call the Sheriff's non-emergency number 949-770-6011 to report any solicitors or other types of suspicious people or activity.