By Ken Jackson
Staff Writer

The savvy shoppers among us are already making their game plans for holiday shopping this year, with some stores opening on Thanksgiving Day not longer after the turkey and pumpkin pie have digested.

But since burglars and thieves also are planning their attacks on innocent shoppers, law enforcement prefers to be one step ahead of the Grinch and his bad-guy henchmen.

Agencies plan to ramp up patrols and increase their presence — some of which the untrained eye won’t see — in high profile shopping areas during the peak shopping season to keep customers and their purchases safe.

Kissimmee Police Chief Lee Massie said that criminal activity generally spikes during the holiday season, and the department hopes to break the trend.

“We are providing more visible patrols in the retail areas of the city and reminding residents and visitors about crime prevention tips,” he said in a press release. “We are also working closely with business owners asking them to contact the police department if they witness suspicious activity.”

Areas like downtown, Osceola Square Mall, the Loop, where Kissimmee Police Department and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office split jurisdiction, and other high-profile commerce areas around the county will see those stepped up patrols, officials said.

KPD, for example, will again employ its extra holiday patrol details through Christmas, said spokesperson Stacie Miller.

“We will make it an officer option, in order for them to be able to pick up overtime details,” she said.

Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain said shoppers should also feel secure in the county.

“We’ll be utilizing uniformed deputies and patrols along with some undercover and specialized operations, so some of it will be visible,” she said.

• Law enforcement reminds shoppers to take their common sense along with their purchasing power and lists from Santa Claus out with them to the stores. Some tips include:

• Do not buy more than you can carry. Go with a friend (a smart decision any time of the year) or, in a pinch, ask a store employee to help carry items to the car.

Wait until the end of the transaction before taking out your credit card or checkbook, in order to deter enterprising identity thieves from “shoulder surfing” to get your account information.

• Let a security guard or store employee know about any unattended bags or packages.

• Carry purses close to the body, or keep wallets in a coat or front pants pocket, to reduce the threat of pickpocketing.

• Have keys in hand when approaching parked vehicles. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.

• Do not leave packages visible in your car windows. Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home. Ensure all doors are locked and windows closed when leaving.

• Teach children to know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help should they get lost.

Shopping online from home also carries its own threat of cybercrimes like identity theft. Some steps to help eliminate those concerns include:

• Before surfing the Internet, secure personal computers by updating security, anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam software. Install a strong firewall. Visit www.bytecrime.org for free software downloads.

• Keep personal information and passwords private and secure. Do not respond to requests to “verify” a password or credit card information unless you initiated the contact, as legitimate businesses will not contact you in this manner.

• Beware of deep discounts or “bargains” from unfamiliar companies, remembering the mantra, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

• Use secure websites for purchases. Look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or “https” in the URL address. Do some research if you plan to buy from a new or unfamiliar company.

• Print and save all confirmations and receipts from online purchases. Verify credit card or bank statements as they come in.