Holiday Safety Tips from the Mayor

A message from —

"We are fortunate to live in one of the safest cities in Orange County with active and involved citizens. However, crime can happen anywhere at any time and with the holiday season upon us, we must be cognizant of crimes of opportunity.
Therefore, I encourage you to remember the following tips:

• When you’re out shopping, be alert to your surroundings and the people around you
• Park in well-lit areas
• Remove your purse, wallet, gifts, cameras, laptops, GPS, or other valuables visible in your vehicle
• If you need to leave gifts in the vehicle because of additional shopping, place them in the trunk or cover the items before you reach your next destination
• Always lock your vehicle, even at home. Criminals check for unlocked doors
• Ladies, never set your purse in a grocery cart, on the counter or floor in a public place
• At the store, when using your ATM card or writing a check, be alert to people around you
• Teach your children to ask a store clerk for help if they become separated from you while shopping. Children should never go to a parking lot or to your car alone
• Carry your car keys in your hand when returning to your vehicle
• For online purchases, consumers may use a third-party service such as PayPal or disposable credit card numbers to pay for online purchases to protect their personal credit card information
• If your ATM card, debit card or credit card is lost, stolen or misused, notify the card issuer immediately. Notify the credit reporting agencies and contact the Sheriff’s Department at 949-770-6011 to request a deputy to take a report
• To avoid being scammed, do not give personal information including credit card and bank account numbers in response to unsolicited requests for donations, especially over the phone. Contact a charity of your choice if you want to give a holiday donation
• If you park on the street or in the driveway of your home, take the garage door opener with you
• Keep your garage door closed at all times to prevent the theft of items from your garage, your vehicle, or from inside your home
• If you go on vacation during the holidays, put the lights, TV, and radio on timers to make the house look “lived in.” Make sure all windows and doors are locked. Stop the mail and newspaper delivery
• Be wary of solicitors, especially during this time of year. Do not open your door but speak through the door so they know you are home and tell them you are not interested. You are encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Department at 949-770-6011 to report all suspicious activity or people and to communicate with your neighbors.
• Neighborhood Watch is an effective program to reduce your risk of crime. Contact Aliso Viejo Police Services at 949-425- 2563 to set up a Neighborhood Watch on your street."