Our Great City

Chief Robert Finn

Holiday Safety Tips

It is hard to believe how fast the year has passed. Southlake is a great place to spend the holidays. This year we launched our first holiday window decorating contest for businesses and it makes a real difference in the appeal of the stores. The family friendly environment and multiple gatherings make this a great time to enjoy your friends and family and the amenities that make Southlake great. Please keep in mind that this is also a time of increased crime, alcohol related accidents, and injuries from accidents in the home so it is very important to remain focused on preventing these events before they occur.

Shopping

LOCK – TAKE - HIDE

When shopping during the holiday season it is wise to take a few preventive measures to ensure your holiday remains joyous and you do not find yourself a victim of crime.

During the holidays we are often very busy this may cause us to be careless about our valuables. This carelessness often leads to the perfect opportunity for thieves to make us the victim of holiday crimes.

Remember, thieves are looking to give great gifts without paying for them. Protect your valuables with these helpful holiday crime prevention tips:

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member and park in a well lit area.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
• Always carry your Texas Driver License or Identification Card along with only necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.
• Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.
• Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.
• Keep cash in your front pocket.
• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse as these are often easy targets for thieves.
• LOCK your car.
• TAKE valuables with you.
• HIDE valuables you cannot carry in your trunk, under a seat, or anywhere they cannot be seen from outside the vehicle.

Christmas Trees

• Purchase green, moist Christmas trees, never old or brittle. Check the needles. Try to find a tree with needles that bend instead of break.
• After purchasing a live tree, be sure to cut the bottom of the tree to expose new wood that will be able to soak up water.
• Always keep live trees watered.
• Keep trees (and any other combustibles) away from ignition sources such as fireplaces, space heaters, candles, overhead lights, and radiators.
• Ensure that artificial trees are fire resistant and UL (Underwriters Laboratory) or FM (Factory Mutual) listed. This will ensure the tree has been manufactured and tested to meet specific safety standards.
• Make sure the base is steady so the tree won't tip over easily.

Christmas Lights and Extension Cords

• Only use UL or FM approved extension cords.
• Make sure the extension cord is large enough to carry the intended load. (The thicker the cord, the greater the load it should be able to carry without overheating.)
• Inspect the cord for damaged insulation, splices, or loose plugs before using. Never use an extension cord that has any of these conditions.
• Do not overload outlets! Use surge protectors if multiple outlets are needed.
• Immediately replace any broken bulbs that have exposed filaments.
• Never use electric lights on old metal artificial trees.
• Never run cords through doorways or under rugs. The insulation on the cords can become damaged if the door closes on the cord, or if people step on it under the rug, causing a potential fire and/or shock hazard.
• Match plugs with outlets. Don't force a 3-pronged plug into a 2-pronged outlet or extension cord.

Toys and Ornaments

• Purchase toys for the appropriate age. Some toys designed for older children might be dangerous for younger children.
• Electric toys should be UL/FM approved.
• Toys with sharp points, sharp edges, strings, cords, or parts small enough to be swallowed should not be given to small children.
• Place older ornaments and decorations that might be painted with lead paint out of the reach of small children and pets.

Parties

• Never drink and drive.
• Always designate a driver.
• Provide non-alcoholic drinks and water for designated drivers and other guests.