Maitland City Talk

The holiday season can bring great joy and excitement to families. Whether you are celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or the New Year, the Maitland Police Department offers a few tips to keep you safe and from becoming a victim of very preventable and popular crimes that may occur around this time of year.

Theft of gifts

There are plenty of Grinches out there looking to spoil your holiday fun. We would highly recommend everyone keeping their gifts and valuables locked inside their residences in a safe and secure place. If you have to keep your gifts in your cars this holiday season, be sure to keep your gifts in your locked trunk. Always make sure they are out of plain sight and be sure to lock your car and activate your car’s alarm. The Maitland Police Department continues to investigate crimes associated with people leaving valuables in places where they can be easily taken by these opportunistic thieves.

Delivery package thefts

Many people do their holiday shopping online. As a result, many of those same people have their gifts delivered to their doorstep. A popular crime is opportunistic thieves following delivery trucks to residences where gifts are being delivered. The delivery truck would deliver the gift on the doorstep, and then when the delivery truck left, the thief would take the gift from the porch without the homeowner knowing it. We recommend making arrangements to pick up your gifts at the post office or at a local hub for the mailing service you are using (i.e. FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc.). Also, keep the tracking numbers and information for the gifts you have purchased so you can safely monitor when you should expect your gift to arrive.

Motor vehicle prowling and burglaries

Motor vehicle prowling and burglaries continue to be popular crimes during the holiday seasons. You can decrease your chance of becoming a victim of these two popular crimes by doing a few simple proactive things: Lock your car and house, use an alarm system on your car and house, and immediately report any suspicious activity you see going on in your neighborhoods. Never leave valuables inside your vehicle. Secure any packages or other valuables in the trunk of your car where they are out of sight. If driving to a park or shopping center, remember to place any belongings in the trunk prior to arriving at your destination.

Avoid becoming a victim of preventable and popular crimes holiday season with these safety reminders.

Have a very happy and safe holiday season with your family and friends!

— Lt. Louis Grindle

Maitland Police Department

Special Operations/ Community Policing