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The holidays are upon us, which can bring unique challenges for police officers.
First, an in increase in car thefts: If you have some extra time on patrol, make some runs through local store or mall parking lots looking for car busters. Pay attention not only to people walking around (are they headed into the mall?) but also people driving around parking lots: Ask yourself, “Where are they going?”
There’s usually an uptick in residential robberies this time of year because robbers know houses are flush with the latest electronics and gifts. Be extra-alert during business hours when people are away from their homes.
Lastly, because it’s the holidays, keep your head in the game. You might have a lot of personal and job-related distracters — but so does everyone else on the road. Pre-holiday stress can result in major traffic accidents — and drunk drivers will be on the road earlier than normal due to holiday parties — so pay attention.
While the holidays are a great time of year, they require police to stay one step ahead and not fall into routine.
