Stay Safe This Christmas

As Christmas approaches, here are some useful crime preventions tips to help you enjoy yourself and remain safe over the festive season.

AT HOME

• Don’t leave presents visible from windows or doors, especially under the Christmas tree!
• Don’t advertise on social media that your house is empty – even if it’s just for one evening.
• Avoid keeping large amounts of cash at home.
• Make sure you keep your doors and windows locked at all times.
• Keys should always be kept out of sight and not left in doors or in view of windows.
• Make your house look occupied, consider leaving lights on when you leave the house
• Don’t open the door to anybody you don’t recognise including doorstep traders. Not sure? Don’t open the door!

SHOPPING

• Keep valuables in inside pockets of clothing or bags.
• Only carry the cash and cards that you need.
• Always shield the PIN pad when entering your PIN.
• Park in an open, well-lit area. Visit our car park map here: NSC Car Parks
• If you have to keep presents in the car, make sure they are out of view in the boot, the car is locked, and keep the receipts with you.
• Avoid going back to your car to leave your shopping part-way through your trip.
• Never leave your bag unattended in your trolley whilst shopping and don’t leave it in your vehicle unattended

OUT FOR THE EVENING

• NEVER leave your valuables unattended.
• Don’t advertise on social media that your house is empty – even if it’s just for one evening.
• Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you’ll be home.
• Avoid walking home alone or with a stranger
• Drink responsibly, never drink and drive and arrange for a member of your group to be a designated driver.
• Check your taxi drivers ID and never get into an unlicensed taxi.

ADVICE FROM TRADING STANDARDS

Check the device: things to look out for include the shape of the plug – the first unsafe products identified often had a clover-shaped plug. Also check the device for markings or traceable information, such as the name and contact details of the manufacturer and / or importer.

If buying online, check the website before you hit the ‘buy’ button:

• Try searching for reviews of the product or the seller – do these seem genuine?
• Are there lots of spelling or grammar mistakes or poor graphics like logos on the site? This can be a clue that a business is not professionally run
• Do they have a landline number you can call if there are any problems? If the company is based abroad, it can be more difficult to get a complaint dealt with or return a faulty product.
• Read the small print – notice if anything seems odd, repetitive or in incorrect English.
• Is there a padlock symbol in the address bar? This means the website is using an encrypted system that keeps your details more secure.

Don’t be dazzled by a bargain: Are the prices incredibly low? If they look too good to be true, they probably are – particularly if some of your other checks have put doubts in your mind.

Criminals exploit high demand: When items like hover boards start to sell out at well-known retailers, criminals fill the void by producing poor quality imitations that can put people in danger. Don’t ‘panic buy’ from the first website you find – do your usual common-sense checks.

Contact North Somerset Trading Standards here: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/tradingstandards or by phoning 01934 888 802