Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

With Christmas less than a week away, retailers anticipate large crowds at stores this weekend as people wrap up their holiday shopping. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents of these safety tips. Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt says the first thing is to be patient. “Prepare for heavy traffic, be patient, be courteous with more traffic of the roads and more traffic in the parking lots, the chances for accidents increase as well, so be patient and don’t get into a rush.” Shop with a friend, continues Watt. “Shop with more than one person. Make sure to put gifts in trunks; don’t leave them in the car where they can be seen. If you shop at night, park under one of the lights in the parking lot. Always be vigilant, always keep your head up and look around to know your surroundings and be familiar with your surroundings.” Limit chances of fraud by shopping with one credit card continues Watt. “Shop with one credit card, if you can don’t shop with multiple cards, shop with one to cut down on chances of fraud. Make sure that when you leave the register that you have your wallet or your pocketbook.” Follow this safety advice from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and have a safe and happy holiday.