The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office offers the following shopping safety tips as the holiday season is fast approaching:

• Be alert and aware.  Be attentive to your surroundings at all times.
• Don’t carry more cash or valuables than is necessary.  Be discreet so that you don’t attract attention.
• Take extra precautions with your wallet or purse.  Carry your purse with the opening flap next to your body and with the strap hung over your shoulder.
• Allow for darkness.  It gets dark early this time of year, so be sure to factor this into shopping plans.
• Instruct children on holiday safety measures.  Know where your children are at all times.  Before going shopping, decide where to meet if you and your children should become separated.
• Always lock your car doors and remember where you park.
• Be sure to place valuables out of sight (i.e. packages, purses, mobile phones, CDs, etc.).  Place them in the trunk or take them with you.  This includes portable GPS units.
• Never hide spare keys in or on your car.  These hiding places are easily discovered.  If you need spare keys, keep them in your wallet or purse.
• Be alert to suspicious persons or circumstances.  Avoid parking where you see someone sitting in their vehicle for no apparent reason.
• Trust your instincts.  If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe in a situation, report it to security immediately.
• When walking in any parking lot, grocery store, airport, shopping center, etc., walk confidently with your head up, make eye contact, and have your keys ready.
• Do not drive across parking stalls.  Use appropriate marked driving lanes and obey all traffic signs.
• Drive defensively and courteously.
• Report all suspicious activity.
• And remember, parking lots will be more crowded and checkout lanes will be busier, so please be patient and have a safe shopping experience.

Tips for sales personnel concerning counterfeit money:

• Do not return suspected money to the passer.
• Stall the suspect as long as possible.
• Get a good description of the suspect, anyone with the suspect, and of the suspect vehicle as well as the license number.
• Call 911 as soon as possible.
• Try not to handle the bill; put it in a protective covering such as an envelope.
• Release the suspected bill only to police or to the United States Secret Service.
• Inform the police if there is video footage available of the suspect.

For more information and tips, visit www.lincolncountysheriff.net and Like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon