Published: November 21, 2007 08:30 am            

‘Tis the season for shoplifting

It’s the time of year for brightly wrapped gifts, roasting chestnuts, Christmas carols — and shoplifting.

Berea Police already have arrested three people within the past week for shoplifting, said Berea Police Capt. Ken Clark. Lehoma A. Laswell, 22, of Orlando, and Lisa R. Vaughn, 35, of Brodhead, both were arrested Nov. 13 at the Berea Dollar General Store. The next day, a 16-year-old male juvenile was detained for shoplifting at Circle K in Berea, but later was released to his parents.

A slight rise in crime is common around the holiday season, and local officials want to remind citizens to be cautious and protect themselves.

“This time of the year, be sure and lock up your car, especially when you go shopping,” Clark said. “Put your stuff in the trunk so if the thieves are out scouting around in parking lots, if you’ve got it locked up where they can’t see it, they probably won’t be tempted to break into your car.”

Richmond Police Sgt. Willard Reardon said the department hasn’t seen much of an increase in shoplifting yet, but they have been experiencing a rise in car thefts.

“CDs and things like that you really can’t leave in the back seat of your car,” Reardon said. “It is easy to smash and grab. This time of year, we seem to see some of that pick up a little bit. Obviously one of the things we suggest to people is don’t leave anything of value in your car. Or if you do, make sure it is locked up.”

Businesses especially need to employ tactics to protect their goods from theft, officials said.

“Just be aware of the people coming into your business,” Clark said. “If you get people who are acting strangely, call the police department. And if you’ve got somebody that’s acting that way, try to look at them good enough where you could give a good identification to police when they get there, and try to see what kind of vehicles they’re in.”

Reardon also recommended having employees “meet and greet” customers and make eye contact to let potential shoplifters know that employees have seen them and are keeping an extra eye out for illegal activities.

“The biggest thing for businesses is to make sure that your video cameras and surveillance systems are working properly,” Reardon said. “Make sure you check them frequently to make sure they are working properly. That is a big plus.”

Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.

        

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