It’s considered by most to be the “most wonderful time of year,” but amidst the shoppers and carolers and stories of eight flying reindeer, criminals may be looking to take advantage of the holiday season. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office plans to thwart their malevolent efforts by implementing an holiday plan that will focus on increased presence in retail areas.
“During the holiday season between Thanksgiving dinner and the New Year celebrations, it is critical that law enforcement present a strong force in the community,” said Sheriff Rex Coffey. “Increasing visibility is the most effective way to reduce crime so we have created a special holiday patrol assignment.”
The Sheriff’s Office will begin operating under the holiday plan the Friday after Thanksgiving — Black Friday. High visibility of patrol officers is a key component of Sheriff Coffey’s holiday crime-fighting strategy. Officers assigned to conduct holiday patrols will increase the police presence in shopping centers and retail establishments to deter criminals and comfort citizens as they shop.
By conducting covert surveillance and operations, the Sheriff’s Office’s Tactical Response Squad will also play an important role in preventing crime, especially robberies, which historically increase in many jurisdictions during the holiday season.
In an effort to further deter criminal activity, the Sheriff’s Office will also participate once again in its Cop or Not program. The Sheriff’s Office partners with local businesses, which display posters reminding would-be criminals that someone they might consider a robbery target may actually be a deputy in plain clothes, so they should think twice before committing that robbery.
High school students in the Criminal Justice Program offered by the Sheriff’s Office and Charles County Public Schools and members of Explorers Post 1658 will also aid in the holiday crime prevention plan by participating in their annual Detect and Deter program. Both uniformed groups canvass parking lots of malls and shopping centers throughout the holiday season in search of vehicles that could potentially be targeted by thieves because shopping bags, gifts, cell phones and other valuables are in plain view. They place a friendly notice on the windshield of the vehicles to remind drivers of the consequences they could face and offer crime prevention information. They begin this operation the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Finally, the Sheriff’s Office offers the safety tips in the document at the top of this article. Keep these tips in mind during the holidays and share them with family and friends:
The Sheriff’s Office also reminds citizens that if they observe any suspicious activity to report it immediately by calling the La Plata District Station at 301-932-2222, the Waldorf District Station at 301-932-7777 or the Indian Head District Station at 301-743-2222. In an emergency, dial 9-1-1. For more information about crime prevention programs, contact the Crime Prevention Unit at 301-609-7942.