Full Notification

As the holiday season kicks-off this month with Thanksgiving, Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office has a few helpful tips to keep you and your purchases safe for Black Friday and beyond:

STAND GUARD.
- Put away the iPhone and iPad. Not only do you become distracted by working, talking, or texting on them, you also become a potential victim.
- Cross-body purses can help when moving through crowded aisles or trying on some types of clothing. Another option is simply bringing a wallet and holding it close.
- Do not pull out your wallet in public, even if you are going to give a holiday donation. Most organizations have a website so you can donate from your home computer.
- Do not do all your shopping in one day. If you’re carrying several bags at a time, you will not be able to defend yourself, nor will you be able to get away fast.
- If you have expensive items, ask the store to have an employee escort you to your car.
- Put gifts in the trunk or cover them with a blanket to keep them safe from those looking to get them for free by breaking in a vehicle.
- If they can, shoppers should try to park by a light and keep their keys in hand walking to and from the car. Shop with a friend so one can stay behind and watch the purchases while the other pulls up the car.
- Do not carry a large amount of cash.
- At the ATM, watch for shoulder surfers who lean over to see a PIN number as it's being entered.
- Do not let strangers help you with your bags.
- Park in a well-lit area close to the entrance, if possible.
- Leave children at home during Black Friday, if possible. If not, it is important to hold onto small children to avoid separation.

Culpeper Police Department will be patrolling businesses in town for the holiday shopping season. Chief Chris R. Jenkins adds, “The Culpeper Police Department looks forward to seeing everyone in our shopping centers and our downtown stores. We will be out in the shopping areas making sure that our residents, guests, and businesses remain safe. We hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable holiday season.”

KEEP RECORDS.
- Keep all your credit card and phone information at home in case you are robbed. You can call immediately and have everything turned off. If you are robbed, call the police from a safe place. Give a good description: facial hair, scars, missing teeth, tattoos, and jewelry. Look for foot wear; most people can change top layers of clothing but do not change foot wear.
- Save your receipts. They make both returning purchases and reporting theft easier.
- Photograph your valuable purchases, and document makes, models, and serial numbers. If your property is stolen, this makes identification easier. For that matter, don’t leave boxes for trash pick-up that showcase any new, big ticket items you received that may attract a thief.

FOR ONLINE CYBER-MONDAY SHOPPING:
- Shop with stores you know and trust.
- Consider bank-issued virtual debit cards for online shopping. If your bank doesn’t offer this service, another option is to use a prepaid credit card.
- Use PayPal.
- Look for secure sites.
- Never send your information through e-mail.

Lastly, but not least: Historically, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year, putting more people on the road and, unfortunately, increasing the likelihood of crashes. Sheriff Scott Jenkins reminds holiday drivers to travel safely: “Make sure your seat belt is buckled before you start any road trip. Be patient; winter weather makes for hazardous roads. And designate a sober driver when your holiday activities include drinking alcohol.”