Officers give tips on holiday shopping safety

JACKSON, Tenn. — Now that we have officially entered the holiday shopping season, Jackson police say there are a few ways you can keep your Christmas from falling into the hands of a grinch.

“You don’t want to make anything an easy target for anybody passing by with ill intent,” Officer Cody Smith said. “You want to protect yourself, your valuables, your family the best way you can.”

Officer Smith said a majority of the phone calls they receive during the holiday season are of people breaking into or taking things from cars in the parking lots of retail stores. They say the best thing you can do is keep your valuables locked up and out of sight.

“With people shopping so much more and buying so many more gifts and things like that, that they just have more on them at the time,” Jackson Resident Tracie Eason said. “So it makes us a bigger target.”

Eason says she knows to heighten her sense of awareness when shopping during the holidays.

Security at Old Hickory Mall told us most items that go missing during the holidays are caused by the forgetfulness of customers.

“Once you sit down and get excited about going to another store, you’ll walk off and leave it. It happens all the time,” Orlandis Smith with Old Hickory Mall security said.

Security officers also say to be careful to not intentionally flaunt personal items such as your cash, phone and keys, and that if you use these simple precautions, you will have an enjoyable shopping experience.

“Enjoy shopping. Have a happy holiday and be safe,” Smith said.