Don't Become a Victim this Holiday Season

Tis' the season to be careful and aware.

It's that time of year when thieves and con artists are frequently on the prowl. Here are some tips from the to help keep your family, home, your car and your possessions safe.

• Keep your vehicle(s) locked at all times, and remove any electronics or items of value from plain view. Most entering auto incidents the Sheriff's Office responds to are not cars that have actually been "broken" into; the thief simply opens an unlocked door and removes any items within the vehicle.

• Keep your garage doors down even during daylight hours. An open garage is simply an invitation for a thief to steal items within your garage.

• Keep your house doors locked especially if you leave for any amount of time.

• Keep your exterior lighting on at night.

• When shopping, please be aware of your surroundings. Do not display large amounts of cash or credit cards. If possible please carry a small wallet with your cash and credit cards in your front pants pocket. If you must carry a purse, please carry one as small as possible. If you leave your purse in your buggy while shopping, make sure it is secured and attached to yourself or the buggy.

"Be very observant of any suspicious or criminal activity in and or around your subdivision. If you see any suspicious activity, please call 911 immediately", said
Sgt. Allan Frampton of the Crime Prevention Unit, in a statement.

Some recent incidents over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to the FCSO Facebook page:

• Buford Dam Rd: Car window broken & purse taken

• Sharon Rd: Car window broken & purse taken

• Creekstone: Unlocked vehicle entered; various electronics valued at approximately $3400 stolen

Traffic Stats over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend:

• Eight  DUIs/Alcohol

• Four Seatbelt citations

• 54 Speeding citations

• Eight Other citations

• Zero fatalities