Conroe Courier November 28, 2023

With the holidays in full swing, Montgomery County public safety officials are warning residents to take precautionary measures when out and about for holiday shopping. 

“It’s the holidays for the thieves too,” said Sgt. David Dickenson of the Conroe Police Department. 

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During the holidays, shoppers have to worry about whether their car will be broken into, if they will be followed to their homes after loading vehicles with packages or be robbed while getting into their vehicles in parking lots.

With an anticipated busy holiday shopping season, agencies are increasing patrols and providing tips on how shoppers can stay safe. 

A busy holiday season

Deloitte, a Houston-based consulting firm, has forecast that this will be a busy holiday shopping season, with the firm’s annual holiday survey finding that 95% of Americans plan to shop for gifts, decor and other items, and expect to spend an average of $1,652.

In the Houston area, the figure is even higher: the Deloitte survey found local respondents were planning to spend an average of $2,013, up 26% from 2022. 

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Despite the rise of online shopping, most shopping is still done in stores, according to data from the Pew Research Center.

Increased patrol from agencies

Several agencies are increasing their patrol as they expect high foot traffic due to the holiday season, officials said. 

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has implemented extra patrols in areas with high traffic, where deputies will be present to ensure the safety of shoppers, deter criminal activity and address any traffic-related issues that may arise, said Lt. Scott Spencer of the sheriff’s office. 

Conroe Police Depaertment will be implementing its “Ho, Ho Patrol,” where officers work overtime to patrol shopping areas, and a bike and mounted patrol units to provide extra security, Dickenson said. 

Alpha and Omega Mounted Patrol will also be patrolling The Woodlands Mall to provide escorts to shoppers’ vehicles, said Lt. Jennifer Clifton. 

9 things shoppers can do to stay safe

Agencies provided tips for shoppers to follow to ensure that they have a safe experience while going out to buy gifts this holiday season, such as staying aware of their surroundings, parking in well-lit areas, shopping in groups and keeping their personal belongings secure. 

One of the most common things shoppers do at The Woodlands Mall is leave their windows down, which entices thieves to break their car windows,  Clifton said. Leaving valuables visible, such as cellphones, laptops and iPads also entices thieves to break in, she said. 

“Anything they that they leave out in their car…it just takes a second for someone to smash the window and grab it,” Clifton said. 

Shoppers should be aware of their surroundings to protect themselves from “jugging” incidents, Dickenson said. 

Jugging is when thieves follow potential victims, often from banks to the person’s home, he said. 

Shoppers should make a plan, write down where they parked if there are labels or signage in the parking lot, avoid carrying large amounts of cash, have their phones charged and trust their instincts if something feels off or suspicious, authorities said. 

“By following these safety tips, shoppers can significantly reduce the risk of becoming victims of crime during the holiday season,” Spencer said.Â