SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Attention females: Has this ever happened to you?

After pulling into a shopping center parking spot, a woman stores her purse under the front seat of her car. She returns to her car periodically to place her packages in the interior of her car, secure in the knowledge that she has locked her car doors.

With her shopping complete, she returns to her vehicle to find that that both her purse and her packages have been stolen.

During the holiday season there is a higher volume of traffic and an increase in theft, local officials reported. Here are some safety tips for shopping during the holidays. Someone could be watching you.

One local law enforcement officer said that there are predators in shopping areas who watch to see if a woman is carrying a purse. If not, they will assume that the purse is still in the car and go after it.

Scott Born of Valor Security, the security provider for the Eastern Shore Centre, said, “{The car] is going to be the first place someone looks.”

Be aware of your surroundings

Born said some people forget the most basic common safety tips while shopping during the holidays because they are in a rush.

Born said women who carry purses can make it more difficult, or even prevent someone from snatching their purse, by keeping the purse close to their bodies. Wallets placed in the zippered portion of the purse can make it more difficult for someone to pocket your wallet, he said. Men should avoid their back pockets and place wallets in the front pocket.

“If you lock your purse or other items in your car or trunk make sure no one is watching you,” Spanish Fort police Chief David Edgar said.

Most thieves aren’t going to go through the trouble of opening a locked trunk, he said.

Don’t be flashy, stick with groups

Two other ways that people make themselves easy targets for thieves are flashing around a lot of cash and being alone, Born said.

“It’s something that happens pretty often during the holiday season,” Born said.

Rather than carrying large amounts of cash, consider carrying a debit card instead.

Edgar said when people head out to shop they should only take the items they need. Just take a credit card, and don’t have items in your vehicle that aren’t absolutely required, he advised.

And instead of shopping by yourself, shop with a group of people to keep from being isolated. Thieves don’t want a witness or a group of people to be involved in their criminal activities, he said.

Edgar said the first thing people need to do is to protect themselves.

“The old saying that there is safety in numbers is true,” he said.

Edgar said shoppers need to to be aware of their surroundings.

“There is a wider perception of it (crime), and the potential is there for more people to be victims because of the increase in the number of people,” Edgar said.

Parking lot safety

To keep from wandering around parking lots, park your car in a well-lit area close to a store and remember what the parking aisle number or letter is.

The police want to be called if shoppers see someone lurking in the parking lot, Edgar said.

The police would rather foil a burglary than not be called, he said. Born said if you feel like you are being followed make a lot of noise and join another group of shoppers until you can get to your vehicle or a store.

Report it to store security or a salesclerk or the police. If something makes you uncomfortable or looks unusual, back away, Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack said, and call law enforcement.

“That immediate call is what we need in order to respond,” he said.

Even waiting 10 or 15 minutes can make a difference in resolving a situation, he said.

“When in doubt, call 911,” Mack said.

Edgar advises people to be aware of light pole placement when they park, as it may be dark when shoppers come out. A lot of patience is needed during the holiday season when people are rushing around, Born said.

“Be extra vigilant when you are driving around shopping malls,” he said.

Avoid anything that could lead to road rage, he said. Everyone wants premium parking spaces closer to the entrance, especially when it is cold or raining outside so it is best not to get annoyed.

“Just realize it is going to be crowded,” he said. “All issues in a shopping mall are magnified during a holiday season,” Born said, such as lost children.

Keeping children safe

Born said a designated meeting spot should be picked out before the shopping begins, so kids will know where they are supposed to meet their caregivers.

If children are old enough, make sure they have the caregiver’s cell phone number.

Children can also go to a security officer or store employee. One big safety advantage is having enough adults to supervise the number of kids in a group, Born said. Edgar suggested that parents talk with their children and tell them what to do if they get lost.

Most stores have a policy to lock the store down if a child is reported as missing, he said. Parents need to contact the store manager or a store clerk and ask them to contact the police or the parent can call the police, he said.

Protect your home

As far as keeping your home safe, people know that most people celebrate the holiday season and will have gifts in the home.

To deter theft, make sure you lock all doors and windows. Inform neighbors if you are going to be out of town. And if you’re still uneasy, Edgar said there will be increased patrols during the holiday season.

If you have a home security system, make sure it is activated, Mack said.

“Don’t give the appearance that no one is home,” he said.

“I hope everybody has a safe and happy holiday season.We want them to be careful and obey speed limits and traffic controls,” Edgar said.

He doesn’t want people to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season that they get in a big hurry.

“Slow down and watch people, because it is getting darker earlier. In the spirit of the season, be forgiving of other people and give them the benefit the doubt,” he said.

“Buckle up and be safe on the roadways,” Mack said.

Since Baldwin County has had a lot of growth traffic is worse.

Mack warns drivers to slow down, especially around congested areas and shopping areas. There will be more young drivers on the road since school is closed, he said.

“We are a tourist destination 12 months a year,” Mack said.