BNSF News

Be Alert During the Holidays

2007-12-10

It’s common knowledge that during the holidays you should be especially alert in shopping mall parking lots. But being alert when picking up your children from daycare is also important.

In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, thieves have been working daycare facilities specifically waiting for parents to drop off or pick up children. Many parents leave the vehicle running when they go in, so thieves can quickly jump in the car and leave. In addition, many parents leave vehicles unlocked to make it easier to get children loaded up. Again, this gives thieves a great opportunity to quickly get in and take any visible valuables.

There also are bands of thieves working restaurant and shopping plaza parking lots. One or two persons walk around the vehicles while another drives along nearby in the get-away car. They look in windows and when they see something of value they quickly break the glass and are gone before anyone can stop them.

A similar tactic is being used by purse snatchers. One person grabs the purse and then jumps into a get-away car before the victim can react.

Purses must be protected in shopping carts as well. Keep purses zipped or snapped shut, and don’t turn away from a purse in the shopping cart. It only takes a moment for a thief to grab the purse and disappear in a crowd.

When you get home with your shopping treasures, don’t assume all is well. If you leave your gifts in the car and then leave the garage door open, the gifts can still disappear. One or two persons enter the garage and grab all they can and then flee to a waiting car. Close the garage door even when you are at home.

Shopping receipts are valuable to criminals as well. Criminals will take a new receipt, go to the store, pick up some of the items on the receipt, and then walk to the customer service desk and attempt to "return" the items for cash.

If you ever get the feeling that something just isn’t right about a parking lot, a dark street, or a quiet corner in the mall, pay attention to that feeling and go to a safe place.

Enjoy the shopping experience and the holidays but continue to be aware of your surroundings at all times.

While you are out and about keep these additional parking safety tips in mind:

If you’re on the BNSF corporate campus, at public places, or around home keep these safety tips in mind while walking in a parking lot.

• Walk in pairs or groups. Remember, there’s safety in numbers.
• Find a parking space in a well-lit area and, if possible, park next to a light pole.
• Have your keys in hand when walking to the car. This will keep you from being distracted and your keys also may be used as a weapon if you are attacked. When you get to your car, take time to look around and behind you for anything or anyone out of the ordinary.
• If you see something suspicious – report it. Talk to security when they drive by or call security from inside the building.
• Finally, keep your car clean. Make sure you don’t leave any loose change or valuables in sight, including CDs, clothes or shopping bags. Thieves look for these things when they are checking cars.

BNSF Headquarters

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com