With the festive season quickly approaching, many of us have started our Christmas shopping and gift buying – but beware, this is also prime time for burglars and scammers who may sell you counterfeit goods or dangerous toys.

We want you to have fun this Christmas and not become a victim of crime.   

That’s why we’re sharing a few tips to ensure you have a fantastic and merry Christmas:

Burglary prevention

• Close and lock all your windows and doors – even if you’re only going out for a few minutes.
• Remote monitoring, like smart cameras, camera doorbells, and environmental sensors, allows you to monitor your property from anywhere via a smart device, offering live feeds, alerts, and even two-way audio.
• Installing or upgrading outdoor lighting with motion sensors or smart options can greatly enhance your home’s security. Smart lighting systems allow you to control lights remotely from a smart device, setting timers to make it appear as though someone is home when you’re not. These can be particularly useful if you’re planning to travel during the holidays or are not at home on dark nights.
•  Winter conditions can make your home’s entry points more vulnerable to wear and tear. Inspect your doors and windows to ensure they’re in optimal condition because cold temperatures and harsh weather can damage locks, hinges, and weather strips/seals. Replace any worn-out parts with weather-resistant materials designed to withstand moisture and cold. This will add a layer of security to your property’s entry points by preventing easy tampering.
• Keep valuables out of sight and away from windows, especially new Christmas presents.
• Be mindful of where your tree is, as you don’t want to advertise wrapped gifts.
• Keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through small openings.
• If going out or going away for Christmas be careful about publicising where you are, especially if you’re away from home. You never know who’s watching.
• If you are having parcels delivered, make sure you redirect them to a local shop, parcel locker or neighbour if you’re not going to be home. Many sweet shops and family food stores now take parcels for you to collect. Do not leave a visible note for couriers with instructions for where to leave your parcels.
• Make sure you have a good lock on your shed and outside storage cupboards. Consider fitting a camera or alarm to your shed.
• Dispose of packaging from expensive items discreetly – break down large cardboard boxes and put them in your blue top bin.

Avoid pickpockets

Look out for pickpockets in crowded areas. Some pickpockets use distraction techniques, for example fake fights or posing as an over-friendly sales person, to steal your possessions.

Some thieves operate in areas where they know potential victims may carry cash such as near ATMs or the Post Office. Remember pickpockets are hard to spot, children are known to steal too.

• Keep an eye on your possessions (especially shopping bags) and store any valuables in difficult to access areas of your bag.
• Make sure your bags close securely or with a zip and if you have a bag with a long strap, wear this across your body and not on your shoulder so it can’t be easily grabbed.
• Get a RFID (Radio-frequency identification) wallet or bag to protect your bank cards being scanned through a pocket or bag in public. The RFID protection blocks any signal so scammers are unable to scan your contactless card for money.
• Stay vigilant if listening to music on your headphones as this can impact your awareness when out.

Gift buying

A number of dangerous toys sold online is on the increase – so it’s important to be extra cautious when buying presents this year.

If you’re out shopping and getting ready for Christmas, there’s a number of things to look out for when buying gifts for children:

• Magnets so strong they can burn through a child’s gut if swallowed.
• Long cords that can strangle a child.
• Dangerous levels of chemicals.
• Small parts that can choke or suffocate.
• Easy access to button batteries that can get stuck in a child’s food pipe, cause internal bleeding and even death.

To find out more about how to spot a scam or a counterfeit good, head to Action Fraud.

For more information on how to spot a dangerous toy, head to Child Accident Prevention Trust.

Useful contacts 

To report a crime online, head to Metropolitian Police

For more informationsand for useful tips and tricks, head to Crimestoppers