Police urge shoppers to exercise caution

Police are making efforts to prevent thefts.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Police know that theft in busy commercial districts is on the rise for the holidays, and in some cases they're in stores looking for those being naughty and nice.
Boardman township police, for example, have taken about 65 general reports between the day before Thanksgiving and Dec. 2. About 35 -- more than half -- dealt with some form of theft.
During October this year, there were 446 total reports -- with 151 theft-related incidents.
The day after Thanksgiving generally marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
Hermitage Police Chief Ed Stanton, whose jurisdiction includes the Shenango Valley Mall, said theft in that area is also expected to rise during the holiday shopping season in the retail sector, and especially in car break-ins.
On the rise
Boardman Police Chief Jeffrey Patterson said officers anticipate the theft rate will rise during the holiday season because of the increase in cars coming into the area and the increase in shoppers. He said more cars generally mean more car break-ins, and more shoppers serve as a cover for those who plan to shoplift.
Patterson said one good thing is that the township, for the most part, experiences crimes of opportunity as opposed to violent crimes. He said in most cases a thief will wait until a shopper is not looking and then grab her purse, rather than snatching it off a woman's shoulder.
Police, therefore, recommend that shoppers and residents take steps to reduce the chances of becoming a victim of theft while shopping.
Patterson and Stanton suggest shoppers park in areas with the most lighting and never leave packages in plain sight inside the car.
Niles police Capt. Ken Criswell also warned women to always keep track of their purses.
"We get reports from women who leave their purses unattended in the shopping carts for as little as a few seconds," he said. "That's all it takes for a thief to take it."
Niles is home to the busy Eastwood Mall.
Criswell suggested women not take purses with them while shopping this time of year; instead, he said, just take the credit cards you will use and keep them and all receipts and cash in your pockets.
Patterson noted money should be carried in front pants pockets, not in a wallet.
He said residents leaving town should take extra precaution during the day and leave on extra lights at night. Those leaving home for the holidays should also have a neighbor collect mail and newspapers.
"Just be aware of your surroundings," he said.
Police efforts
Police, working with a three-part plan, will also be taking additional steps to combat any increase in theft over the holiday season, the Boardman chief said.
"Basically, Boardman is a really safe community. What we are doing now is an effort to increase that level of safety by preventing any potential crimes," Patterson said.
The person shopping for toys at the rear of a department store, strolling through the parking lot or taking in nature at Boardman Park over the next several weeks might be a plainclothes officer. The department will be placing plainly dressed and uniformed officers in various trouble spots to watch for crimes.
The township's three police dogs will also be used extensively, checking parking lots or to chase any suspected criminal who decides to try and outrun the law.
Looking for patterns
Patterson said the department will also be prioritizing cases for what appear to be ongoing patterns.
"The standard rule is that 10 percent of the people commit about 90 percent of the crimes," he said. "The key is to find that 10 percent."
Patterson said officers will be using a mapping system that shows where and when similar crimes are taking place to determine where officers are most needed and at what times. The system, he said, has already led to arrest in a series of car break-ins.
Police will also be strengthening patrols along the U.S. Route 224 and Market Street corridors looking for seat-belt and child restraint violations.
jgoodwin@vindy.com