Beware of crime while holiday shopping

Shopping during the holidays can squeeze joy out of the season as you deal with a crush of bodies in the mall or navigate Web sites that promise fabulous deals. Here are simple tips can help keep your holidays festive and crime-free.

Bound for the mall

The chaos of shopping sprees in crowded stores can provide cover and easy hunting for thieves. Reports of robberies, car break-ins, and larcenies in Baltimore have decreased from 4 percent to 12 percent this year, but the holiday season is just starting with the potential for crimes of opportunity, says Baltimore police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

“Everybody should be mindful around the holiday season,” Guglielmi says. “Just be careful of your belongings and mindful of your surroundings.”

Thefts and robberies often increase during the holidays, says Baltimore County Police Department spokesman Cpl. Mike Hill. Shopping during the day with a friend or family member is preferable to venturing out alone at night. Men should keep wallets in a front pocket or interior coat pocket, and women should avoid carrying a purse if possible. Take only the credit cards you will need, and don’t carry large amounts of cash. The department offers more crime prevention tips in its Police Report program.

In the parking lot, lock your vehicle and hide packages and valuables or lock them in the trunk. “ ‘Don’t feed the bears’ is what we always tell people,” Guglielmi says. “It’s just using good judgment and common sense to avoid being a victim.”

If you are concerned about the safety of returning to your vehicle at night, request an escort from a mall security guard. “If you think you’re in a situation where a crime is going to be committed, it’s always better to call 911,” Hill says.

Con artists also cruise parking lots looking for marks, or “pigeons,” for a favorite scam called the pigeon drop. A team of con artists claims they have found a wallet or purse stuffed with cash and offer to split the proceeds if the victim hands over some of his own cash as a sign of “good faith,” since he will get to hold the loot. In reality, the con artists have switched the cash for worthless paper and leave the victim with nothing.

Online shopping perils

As online shopping has increased in popularity, so have complaints about fraud, says Angie Barnett, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland.

“I think the lure for a lot of the online deals is pricing,” she says. “If it’s a bogus or fraudulent Web site, they are going to lure you in with that low price.”

Web sites or online auction scams may not deliver the purchased item or substitute an inferior product. Credit card fraud and hidden fees also are possible so check credit card statements for unauthorized charges. Never divulge personal information, and use a credit card or PayPal for purchases because they offer greater fraud protection than debit cards. Don’t respond to e-mail phishing scams that request financial information to “confirm” recent transactions.

The Better Business Bureau has an online database listing complaints against businesses, charities and Web sites. Consumers can file complaints online with the bureau, which will contact the business and seek to resolve the problem.

Consumers in Maryland also can file complaints with the Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office. The office receives 12,000 to 15,000 consumer complaints each year, including issues involving refund policies, expired gift certificates, and online purchases, says Karen Straughn, director of the mediation unit.

“We do try to mediate whatever we can to see what we can do to solve the situation,” she says.

Brendan L. Smith is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C.