Miami-Dade Kicks Off "Grinchbusters" For Holiday Shopping Season
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – With Thanksgiving less than 24 hours away, tis the season for shopping.
Beginning with Gray Thursday and Black Friday sales, holiday shoppers will be out in full force until Christmas, and so will burglars, pickpockets and thieves.
On Wednesday, the Miami-Dade Police Department kicked off their annual "Grinchbusters" program to help keep shoppers safe. For the next month or so, detectives will conduct surveillance and uniformed officers will be highly visible at the county's major shopping centers.
Officer David Castillo is on the Grinchbusters squad. He said a prime example of what not to do is dropping off purchases at your car and then going back inside to shop.
"Basic bad guy sits in the car, watches you come out, watches what you put them in your trunk and then watches as you walk back into the mall," said Castillo. "They walk up, look inside and see packages, they break the glass or pop the door with their screw driver and take all your packages."
Castillo said shoppers should keep their purchases with them. If they can't or have too many, they should find out if the mall has a service where packages can be dropped off inside and retrieved later.
This year there's another component, the threat of terrorism. The police department's Homeland Security Bureau plans to distribute flyers regarding the 'See Something, Say Something' campaign which urges shoppers to report anything that looks out of place, like unattended bags or packages. Police, both uniformed and undercover, will be watching too.
"We will have tactical units deployed at times, different locations, we're going to deploy on different days, different times," said Acting Director Juan Perez. "You will see tactical units at malls, at the Metrorail and Metromover stations."
Police say there are several key steps shoppers can take to avoid being a theft victim.
- Always be aware of your surroundings. People who are aware are less likely to become victims.
- Carry your purse over your shoulder and close to your body. Do not keep wallets or money in back pockets or in a backpack that can be easily opened.
- Keep a list of the contents of your wallet, including credit card numbers, in a secure place. In the event these items are stolen, this will facilitate the reporting process.
- Never leave your purse, wallet or packages unattended.
- Beware of pick-pockets, especially in crowded areas.
- Carry only the amount of cash or credit cards that you need.
- Avoid storing any purchased items inside your vehicle.
- Park your vehicle in a well lit area. If your vehicle is parked in a dark area, request for security to escort you to your vehicle when you are done shopping.
- As you walk towards your vehicle, have your car keys in hand. Avoid fumbling through your purse while in the parking lot.
- Make sure your vehicle is locked and the windows are closed before you walk away from it.
- If you encounter vehicle trouble, such as a flat tire while shopping, request assistance from security or return to the information counter in the shopping center.
- When using the ATM, make sure it is not in a secluded location and is well lit. Go directly to your vehicle and avoid counting your cash while at the ATM.
- Avoid carrying information regarding personal identification numbers (PIN) or other personal access numbers.
- Avoid carrying your social security card, passport, birth certificate, etc.
