JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — While the holiday season is the season of giving for most, it holds a much less festive purpose for holiday thieves.
“They know we’re out shopping. There’s more items inside of a home, inside of a car to take advantage of people,” Christian Hancock with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office pointed out Monday.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
Now – with Christmas fast approaching, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says crime is already on the rise.
With the holiday season a winter wonderland for porch pirates and burglars alike, Hancock is asking people to take proper precautions going into the Christmas holiday - removing or hiding any valuable items out of sight that are sitting inside of cars, while making sure home invaders don’t stand a chance.
“You wanna keep your doors secure,” Hancock suggested. “If you have those neighbors, if you’re gonna be out of town, make sure your neighbors you know that you can trust, somebody strange comes around, [they] call police.”
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
One of the biggest mistakes Hancock points out you can make this holiday season is leaving the boxes of those prized holiday gifts out on the curb for all to see, like large screen TV or pricey gaming system boxes - as it just may be an unintended invitation for a holiday grinch to enter your home.
“Following Christmas all those items get opened, again, those high dollar looking boxes, those high priced items with those fancy little monikers on the outside of those white boxes, those draw peoples attention,” Hancock pointed out. “Those are very high value items. Break those boxes down, put em in bags. Do what you can do, again, to help yourself, not be a victim.”
Read: Matt Gaetz House ethics report alleges he paid for sex, drugs
Read: Child injured when several drones fall from sky during show
Read: Two convicted of killing family in Florida among dozens of death penalty cases commuted by Biden
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
