(MOBILE, Ala.) - The holiday season is fast approaching, and the Mobile Police Department wants shoppers to stay safe while heading in and out of stores.
Here are a few tips:- Be aware of your surrounding
- Safety in numbers - Shopping with others reduces your chances of being a victim
- Park only in well lit areas in designated parking lots
- Avoid large groups of people that appear to be loitering in parking lots
- Avoid any unnecessary contact with unknown people in parking lots
- Make sure valuable items are not left in plain sight in a vehicle or unattended in a shopping cart
- Parents should place an identity card in their child's pocket in the event they become separated from one another. The card should provide the name of the child, address, telephone contact numbers and the name of a relative
- In the event that parents and children are separated, the children should be instructed to go to the nearest police officer
- Do not purchase items from non-licensed solicitors in parking lots
