Police Chief: Be Aware of Your Surroundings This Holiday Season

With holiday shopping in full swing, there's no doubt that Lower Southampton residents are still out and about shopping and filling their homes with holiday gifts for friends and family.

Though this time is marked by shopping and traditions, Chief William Wiegman said that it is also a time when crime can be the most devastating.

Recently, Wiegman said, there has been an increase in purse snatches and theft from vehicles in Lower Southampton.

People go out shopping, leave items in their vehicles and those vehicles are getting broken into and the merchandise is being stolen, he said. Wiegman also said that burglars know that people are purchasing expensive gifts this time of the year such as flat screen TVs.

"Burglars know they can go in and take them," he said of the expensive gifts being stored in township homes.

"People tend to keep an increased amount of money in the house, keeping it closer to them for shopping," Wiegman added. The "bad guys need Christmas gifts too" and the storage of expensive gifts and the role of drugs all play a part in the increase of crime, he said.

"[Drug users] always need money to buy drugs or take things to sell or barter for drug money," Wiegman said of why homes are sometimes burglarized and cars are stolen from.

So what can residents do to protect their homes and holiday gifts? Wiegman said one thing is to keep an eye on each other's homes.

"If you’re expecting packages, let your neighbors know," he said, noting that you should ask your neighbors to pick those packages up for you so they are not sitting outside unattended throughout the day and vulnerable for someone else to just grab them and take them.

Wiegman also suggests leaving lights on in your home at night while you're out.

"If you’re going away for a few days, stop your mail and have someone pick up your newspaper. And make sure the doors are locked on your car and let a neighbor that you’re going away," he said.

If you are spending the day out shopping and decide to put some of your purchases out in your car, Wiegman suggests putting those items in the trunk of your vehicle. He also warns to be aware of your surroundings and be on the lookout for anything suspicious. If you notice someone watching you walk out to your vehicle and put your gifts in there, Wiegman said that you should move your car to a different location.

If you see something out of the ordinary, he said, call the police. It might be nothing, he notes, but the police can check the situation out.

One particular crime that hasn't increased during the holiday season, Wiegman said, is drivers driving under the influence.

"I think the best result is that people are picking a designated driver," Wiegman said. He also credits the lack of increased DUIs people being more cautious about how much alcohol they’re drinking at holiday parties.

If you are out late at a holiday party, when you're driving home Wiegman said that "the best line of defense is be aware of your surroundings." Be mindful of your driving and keep your eyes on the road, instead of playing with the radio or your cell phone, he warns.

"You can never be too cautious," Wiegman said of watching out for drivers under the influence. Some telltale signs Wiegman said police officers look for in DUI cases include a vehicle without headlights on, driving at a slower rate of speed, coasting to a traffic light, waiting a minute to go when a traffic light turns green and swerving.

If you see a driver that you suspect is driving under the influence, Wiegman said to call 911.