'Bonus' season for thieves

Taupo Times, Volume 19, Issue 99, 23 December 1970, Page 6

'Bonus' season for thieves

Christmas, the "bonus season" for thieves, is here. Shoplifting aside, shoppers, themselves, are particularly vulnerable to thieves, according to Detective Sergeant B. J. Husband, of Hamilton, the police regional crime prevention officer for the King Country, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty. He warned women against creating opportunities for the wide-awake thief to steal from them . while they were doing their Christmas shopping. "By taking reasonable precautions, you can prevent this type of offence happening to you. After all, many of you encourage thieves by giving them open opportunity to steal," Mr Husband said. He gave the following basic rules as a guide:1 When out shopping never carry more money than is necessary for what you want to buy. Not only will this reduce the amount stolen if such a thing should happen, but you will be prevented from making that impulse purchase which you would not normally make; (I am sure your husband will back me up on this point). 2. If you have to put down packages, coats, umbrellas and the like, sit where you can watch them and make sure you do watch them. > 3. If, when washing your hands in public conveniences and restaurants, you remove your ring, or watch place them in your pocket, or about your person somewhere, then you won t leave them on the wash basin or shelf. 4. Don't leave valuables in a coat when hanging it in a cloak room, or such like, — not even at your place of work. 5. Don't carry your money, purse, or handbag, in an open shopping bag or basket. Always hold on to the strap of your handbag. 6. Don't leave your purse or handbag on a shop counter while you examine goods in another part of the shop. Take it with you. 7. Be especially vigilant in crowded stores and try to avoid shopping at 'peak' hours. 8. If it is necessary to leave your pram outside a store while making your purchases, don't leave your shopping bag on it, even if you think you are only going to be away from it for a very short time. 9. If you go to the pictures, don't leave your handbag under the cinema seat or on the adjacent seat. Keep it on your lap. 10. If you lose negotiable documents such as savings bank books, cheque forms, etc., notify the appropriate authority of the loss without delay.

11. If something is stolen inform the police immediately. It is no good waiting until you arrive home. Those extra minutes might make the differ-. ence between our catching the thief, or not. 12. Write your name and address on the inside of your handbag, or purse, NOW. Usually when a thief steals such property, he

is only after the money in it, and he will throw the handbag and its other contents away after taking the money. "If all shoppers obeyed these above golden rules, our work would be considerably minimised and holiday breaks would undoubtedly be more happy for every one," said Mr Husband.