Via the Owasso Police Department Facebook :
11/13/2018 – It’s almost that time of year again! The Owasso Police Department Holiday Patrol will kick off on Thanksgiving evening (Thursday November 22nd) and will continue through the end of the holiday shopping season. We will be assigning officers on foot and vehicle patrol throughout Owasso’s major shopping districts to ensure that customers (and employees) have a safe environment to check items of their holiday shopping lists.
Holiday patrol is comprised of volunteer reserve officers and full time officers/detectives who come in on their days off to work extra hours. The officers working this special assignment are in addition to the normally scheduled patrol shifts working the streets, answering calls for service and patrolling the neighborhoods of Owasso.
Even though we will have extra officers on patrol, it’s still important for everyone to do their part to help us reduce crime during the holidays. Here are some tips to help reduce the chances of being the victim of a crime:
• Always lock your car, even if you are just leaving it unattended for a few minutes. The overwhelming majority of auto burglaries in Owasso involve a car that was left unlocked.
• Never leave valuable items in view inside a vehicle. Potential thieves often look through windows for high value items like laptops, electronics, firearms, bags full of newly purchased gifts, purses etc. Leaving those items where a thief can see them might be a temptation they can’t resist.
• Never leave your vehicle running unattended. With the recent arrival of the snowy weather, there will be thieves cruising the neighborhoods, shopping centers and convenience stores looking for running vehicles. It’s nice to come outside to a warm vehicle; not so nice to come outside to an empty driveway where your sweet ride used to be.
• Never leave your purse unattended in the shopping cart. It only takes a split second for a thief to grab your cash or credit cards while your attention is focused on finding the perfect gift on a nearby shelf. Consider leaving that duffle bag sized purse at home while shopping and instead carry a smaller wallet that can be secured in your pocket.
• Be aware of your surroundings – inside and outside the stores. Try to park in lighted areas and keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Hopefully this never becomes a common occurrence in Owasso, but other communities have found that purse snatchers, muggers and pick-pockets are less likely to target someone who appears alert & confident; preferring a victim who looks distracted. If you see something suspicious – call the police!
• If you choose to skip the crowds and do some of your shopping online this year, make sure you take steps to protect your packages from the porch pirates. Try to arrange delivery when someone will be home to bring that box inside, have your packages delivered to work or ask a neighbor to pick up the package for you until you get home.
• Don’t advertise your new toys. You may be proud of that new 80” flat screen and high tech gaming console, but putting the boxes at the curb on trash day advertises your new expensive toys to any potential thief that may be driving by your house. Instead, break down the boxes and place them out of site inside the trash bin (or better yet, take them to the recycling center).
• Keep privacy in mind on social media; you never know who might be viewing your posts. The third cousin of your old high school classmate’s boyfriend doesn’t necessarily need to know about your upcoming out of town trip to Grandma’s house, the new expensive gifts sitting under your tree or your sick relative in the hospital who is away from their houses for an extended period of time.
