Safety Tips

Security experts say there are a few simple measures you can take to make your holiday shopping experiences safe:

* Make sure you have plenty of time to do your shopping. Shoppers who are not in a rush will have time to evaluate the environment and consider basic safety measures, said Huntington Beach police Lt. Luis Ochoa.

* Take care where you park. “If you see anyone suspicious, park somewhere else,” Ochoa said. Police also advise shoppers to park in well-lighted areas and to shop with a companion at night. Shoppers who are alone are encouraged to ask mall security personnel for an escort back to their cars.

* If you plan to hide valuables--including gift packages--in the car while you shop, do so before you arrive at the mall. “Don’t take out (a package) or your purse and put it into the trunk in plain view,” Ochoa said.

* The best option is to take valuables, such as slide-out car stereos and leather day planners, with you when you leave the car. Day planners are very attractive to thieves because the leather covers can cost $100 or more.

* Shoppers who fill their cars’ trunks with presents and head back into the mall for more shopping are courting disaster because criminals might be watching, said Costa Mesa police Sgt. Bob Durham, who supervises the South Coast Plaza substation.

* Don’t drop your guard once you’re back inside your car. Be aware, Santa Ana police Lt. Dave Nick said, of criminals who follow shoppers home from mall lots. Head to a police station, Nick said, if it appears you’re being tailed.