THE risk of falling victim to a robbery or street theft remains low in Huddersfield.
But, with the credit crunch starting to bite and Christmas looming, it’s best to take some sensible precautions.
The town centre streets are busier, it gets dark during the afternoon and people carry more cash around with them.
Everyone needs to draw money out, but always be aware who is around you when using a cash machine.
If you feel someone is too close or watching too intently, walk away and go back a few minutes later.
If you can go into the bank to get the cash from a dispenser inside, do so.
Carry as small amount of cash around with you as you can – use debit and credit cards instead.
Don’t buy a load of presents, leave them on show in your car and return to the shops to buy more.
Make sure they’re in the boot out of sight.
If an opportunist thief sees bags in a car he’ll think nothing of smashing a window, reaching in and grabbing them.
Try to keep to brightly-lit streets and don’t respond to conversations with strangers – especially if they ask to look at your mobile phone. It’s amazing the number of thieves who use this line, yet people still get their phones out and the thieves then grab them and run.
If someone asks you the time, never get your phone out to check it. Use your watch, or if you don’t have one then apologise and tell the person that.
Criminals look for people who appear vulnerable so walk confidently at a steady pace and make eye contact with people.
When shopping in the town, women should always keep their bags around their shoulders and to the front so pickpockets can’t strike.
These thieves tend to work in gangs, with one or two jostling you while the light-fingered thief takes a purse or wallet from the victim’s pocket or bag.
People are still leaving their purses on top of open shopping bags.
Don’t do it – this makes life far too easy for the thieves.
A car crime victim has warned others that thieves are active in Dalton.
The woman, who does not want to be named, had her three-month-old Audi A3 stolen by thieves who sneaked into her house at 5pm on Wednesday through an unlocked door and stole the keys to her car.
