Home Safety
Burglary risks tend to increase during the holidays, especially when many people are traveling. Before leaving home, lock all windows and doors, set timers on lights to make your home look occupied and keep gifts out of sight from windows. Avoid posting travel plans on social media until after you return.
Mail theft in our community is still on the rise, so be sure to routinely check your mailboxes and abstain from mailing Christmas cards with cash in them.
Parking Lot Safety
While shopping, park in well-lit, high-traffic areas and always lock your vehicle, even if you’ll only be gone a moment. Keep shopping bags and valuables out of sight by putting them in the trunk before arriving at your next stop. When approaching your car, stay aware of your surroundings and have your keys ready in your hand.
Shopping in Stores
Keep purses and bags close to your body and zipped if possible. Wallets should be securely stored in a zipped bag or a pants front pocket. Try not to carry too many packages at once, as this makes you an easier target for theft. If purchasing a gift card, grab one from the back of the stack. Culprits know that cards in the front of the rack will likely be purchased and will use those numbers to commit fraud. When shopping with children, always keep them within sight and designate a meeting spot in case you become separated.
Online Shopping Safety
When shopping online, only use secure websites by looking for the “https” in the web address. Avoid deals that seem too good to be true — they likely are. Keep an eye on your packages by tracking their location and consider sending deliveries to pick-up locations rather than your home address if you won’t be home for deliveries.
Happy Holidays from ACPD!
We wish everyone in American Canyon a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to seeing you all at this year’s Reindeer Run and Magic of the Season events. Stay vigilant, stay safe and as always, if you see something, say something. Call us anytime at (707) 253-4451.
Chief Rick Greenberg
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