Learn about ways to stay safe and reduce risk during the
holiday season in this month’s video message

SALT LAKE CITY — Chief Chris Burbank talks with CIU (Community Intelligence Unit) Detective Brett Olsen about ways to stay safe and reduce risk during the holiday season in this month’s “Chief’s Message,” now posted at police.slc.gov.

The conversation was taped at Urban Arts Gallery at Gateway Shopping Center, a natural backdrop to talk about preventive measures while shopping for the holidays.

“There are people watching, unfortunately, that are waiting for you to go with an armload of packages, drop them in your car and then walk away,” Chief Burbank said of shopping-related safety concerns.

“These are crimes of opportunity and if the criminals see any opportunity where they have the chance to go and grab a gift that you’ve left there in your car, they’re going to take it,” acknowledged Brett Olsen, the Community Intelligence Officer for City Council District 6. “And often you can be distracted while shopping–inadvertently leaving your car door unlocked — so please be sure those gifts are out of sight, even at home. Don’t leave those packages right there underneath the windows so that everybody can see that you have gifts there for the taking.”

Chief Burbank and Detective Olsen outline a variety of preventive measures, including:

• If someone can’t be home to receive package deliveries, ship to a work address or have a neighbor remove them from your porch and keep them for you.

• Do not leave phones, purses, packages or other items of value in plain sight or unattended in a car. While locking items in a trunk helps, it is a good idea to do so before arriving at your destination.

• Thieves are watching this time of year to see who unloads packages and then continues shopping. Consider moving the vehicle to another parking level or area, if possible.

• Leave lights, TV and/or a radio on when away from home.

• Stop your mail/newspaper or arrange for a neighbor to pick it up while you’re out of town.

• When decorating for the holidays, don’t overload electrical outlets.

• Never leave burning candles unattended.

• Verify a charity before donating.

Download the SLCPD Holiday Safety brochure and review preventive measures to keep the holiday season safe.

Watch the full video online at www.police.slc.gov or YouTube.com/slcpd.

About the “Chief’s Message”

Chief Burbank issues a monthly video message to help the public reduce its exposure to, or mitigate the effects of, crime, as well as spotlight different parts of the city’s public safety team. All “Chief’s Messages” are archived on the newsroom page of www.police.slc.gov and the “Chief’s Message” playlist of http://www.youtube.com/slcpd. To recommend a topic to Chief Burbank, please send an email to: askthechief@slcgov.com.