Local News
Shoppers warned to keep eye out for thieves
Christmas may be a bright time, but police say some criminals believe it’s the right time to grab your cash and run.
But they say jingle-bell time can still be a swell time if you take precautions to keep the thieves at bay.
When shoppers pack stores during the holiday season, police say, criminals will often be ready to pounce — by stealing purses, breaking into cars, stealing cash or credit cards or burglarizing homes.
However, there are measures people can take to protect themselves.
“There’s always a few things you can do to lessen your likelihood of becoming a victim,” Beckley police Capt. Jeff Shumate said.
Car break-ins are common during the holiday season. Shumate estimated 15 to 20 percent of all these crimes happen to vehicles left unsecured. Besides locking vehicles, Shumate advises parking in well lighted areas and making sure all valuables like Christmas presents are not visible. If a vehicle has a locked trunk, those items should be placed there.
People should also be careful with their purses and wallets, Shumate said. If a woman brings a purse inside a store, she should try to keep it on her person and not unattended in a shopping cart. Carrying a wallet that contains only what is needed for a shopping trip could deter purse thieves as well.
Shumate said that if people feel comfortable using debit cards, it could be better to use that than carrying large amounts of cash. Those who carry cash should limit the amount others actually see.
“If you have a large amount of cash in hand, you increase your possibility of being a victim of crime,” he said.
Shumate said residential burglaries do not tend to increase during the holiday season. However, potential burglars are often attracted to homes where the residents are gone for an extended time period. One way to deter them is to secure the home and not having boxes for large appliances or electronics outside.
He also advises having someone periodically check on the home and make it appear like someone is actually home. Measures to do that include hooking lights up to a timer, having mail or newspaper deliveries temporarily stopped and having someone shovel any snow outside.
Shumate does not believe the economic downturn will be the real reason some people will commit holiday season property crimes. Those who blame the economy are generally just trying to make an excuse for their actions, he says.
— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com
- Local News
-
- Boil water notices
-
SCHOOL CLOSINGS and DELAYS
Click HERE to go to the West Virginia Department of Education with up-to-date school closings and delays by county.
-
Moderate flooding reported in Greenbrier County
Emergency officials are reporting moderate flooding of small streams in western Greenbrier County, with the Greenbrier River not expected to crest until 7 p.m. or later Saturday.
-
Ultrasound bill goes to Manchin
CHARLESTON — Absent penalties that initially raised some eyebrows, an update of the Women’s Right to Know Act that makes ultrasound imaging available to women seeking abortions was sent to Gov. Joe Manchin Saturday.
-
Gun tax holiday is approved
CHARLESTON — Hunters and other gun owners can buy a new firearm and ammo without paying a sales tax one weekend in October in a bill that exited the Legislature before Saturday’s deadline.
-
Folks are ready for daylight saving time
Daylight saving time is here. Spring officially arrives today.
And people are happy. -
Conferees agree on bill to cut dropouts
The bill would hike the legal age to quit school from 16 to 17.
- What's Happening — March 14, 2010
-
Woman killed in flooding; Kanawha firefighter feared dead in Beaver rescue operation
A Kanawha County firefighter is believed drowned after a boat he was in capsized during a rescue operation in Beaver Saturday morning and a Bradley area woman was apparently killed after being swept away by swift water as major flooding devastated much of Raleigh and Fayette counties.
-
State of emergency issued for 34 counties
Gov. Joe Manchin on Friday authorized the West Virginia National Guard as a precaution to potential flooding this weekend.
- More Local News Headlines
