Paper: Thieves ready to prey on opportunities holidays present

This story could be no better reason to avoid shopping at businesses which post "no-guns" signs. These signs act as an advertisment to criminals that there are firearms waiting to be stolen in the parking lot, and that there are defenseless customers waiting inside.

The Dayton Daily News is reporting that area police are warning shoppers to "stay alert", because shoppers are not the only folks scouting for a good deal this holiday season.

"That's what the thieves are doing too — sizing up their victims," Miami Twp. Deputy Police Chief John DiPietro told the newspaper. "(They) target their victim based upon the victim's inability to pay attention to their surroundings."

The more vigilant the shopper, the less susceptible he or she is to theft, he said:

"The thief is going to go on to someone else who is more unsuspecting."

DiPietro told the DDN the biggest problem in the Miami Valley area is purse snatching from women in parking lots, walking through malls and standing in grocery stores. DiPietro told the newspaper thieves prey on people bogged down with bags.

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Shoppers should have their keys ready before they leave the store, Marc Rospert, executive director of the Ohio Crime Prevention Association was quoted as saying.

Should a thief approach a person headed to the car, "have those keys ready almost as a weapon," he said, adding that he does not encourage violence or retaliation in most cases.

Shoppers should park in well-lit areas and try to walk to their car in groups, Rospert said.

Shoppers who are robbed are asked to get an accurate description of the thief, the vehicle and the direction he or she left.

"We want people to be the best witness," DiPietro said.

Rospert said shoppers should remain aware and cautious beyond the gift-giving season.

"What you're doing during the holiday season, you want to be doing all year long," he said.