The Kissimmee Police Department has two messages for citizens today:
Happy Thanksgiving!
And, be smart about avoiding crime of opportunity.
The holiday season marks a time that people shop and travel. The shopping means having newly-bought gifts stored in the car, and the traveling means stopping for gas.
Both present potential problems.
In Kissimmee, 65 percent of car burglaries in September through November have occurred in vehicles that were either unlocked or open, per KPD’s statistics.
“The Kissimmee Police Department urges residents to always lock your car, even if you are away for only a few minutes,” Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell said. “We also encourage you to remove any valuables or ensure they are not in open view and maintain your keys at all times. Remember, if you see something, say something by calling 911 to report all suspicious activity.”
The number of car burglaries since September hasn’t changed much since the prior three-month period (June-August), most have still been non-forced entries, which could get worse next month with people potentially leaving their Christmas shopping items in plain view.
“A majority are no force and open or unlocked doors,” KPD spokesperson Samantha Scarp said. “However, we are seeing an uptick in forced which can contribute to possibly leaving valuables in plain sight within the vehicle.”
On the same topic of awareness, avoid becoming a victim, before you even return from Thanksgiving travel or start Christmas shopping, by staying alert for gas pump skimmers, small devices criminals attach to pumps to steal credit or debit card information.
“With millions of Americans traveling this holiday season, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from gas skimmers and other travel scams,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to avoid falling victim to fraud.”
Here’s ways to best sidestep the skimmers:
Pay inside instead of at the pump: It takes just seconds for criminals to place a skimmer in a gas pump — but it’s far less likely that a skimmer has been placed on the payment terminal inside the gas station or convenience store. Take the few extra minutes to pay inside with cash or a credit card to protect yourself.
Take a close look at the pump: Avoid using pumps that are open or unlocked, have had the tamper-evident security tape cut or removed, or otherwise appear unusual. If anything seems cracked, loose, or tampered with, use a different pump. Grab the credit card slot and give a tug; a skimmer will come loose or snap off.
Pay with a credit card: Cardholders are protected by the card issuer’s zeroliability policy — but a stolen debit card number could be far more damaging. If you must use a debit card, choose to use it as credit, instead of selecting debit and entering your PIN. Use a credit card chip reader if it is available.
Choose gas pumps closest to the physical building: Don’t use gas pumps out of the attendant’s line of sight, such as those around a corner or behind a building. Thieves placing skimmers are less likely to put them in pumps where the store attendant may catch them in the act.
Check your card statements and sign up for fraud alerts: Nearly every credit card issuer offers fraud alerts, and many will email or text you when your card is used at a gas station. Check your credit card and debit card transactions regularly to make sure no fraudulent activity has occurred. Report any irregularities immediately to the credit card company.
Skimmers first began to appear in Florida in 2015 and have grown exponentially since. But the Department of Agriculture said that through awareness efforts, the number of skimmers dropped from from 1,309 in 2019 to 398 so far in 2021.
