With holiday festivities in full swing, Wildwood officials are reminding residents to be alert and reduce risks related to seasonal crime trends.
“We typically see a spike in property and auto theft at this time of year, consistent with other jurisdictions across the state and country,” said Police Chief Randy Parmer. “It’s an unfortunate truth that increases in shopping, traveling, and socializing present abundant opportunities for criminals to take advantage of citizens. Fortunately, there are some simple steps everyone can take to deter crime.”
As a minimum, Parmer recommends the following:
• Stay alert. Residents should be on the lookout for dubious persons and activity and call 911 if they see something that looks suspicious.
• Never leave packages in plain sight. Lock up purchases in the trunk when shopping and promptly bring in all deliveries. Use the shipper’s tracking feature to determine when packages will arrive so they are not left outside in view.
• Always lock vehicles and remove the keys. This applies when parking briefly to run into a building for a few minutes. Criminals generally seek the path of least resistance, particularly unlocked cars with keys left in them.
• Keep all doors locked at home, whether or not inside. This includes closing and locking garage doors, another easy target for perspective thieves.
• Take steps to make the house look occupied when away. Putting various room lights on timers, preventing newspapers from piling up, and having a locked vehicle in the driveway help deter potential property crimes.
“These are good habits all year round,” Parmer added. “Many of the calls we respond to could be prevented by simply following these practices.”
