Business owners are being urged to use police escorts when depositing money at banks during the Christmas period. Snr Supt Cecil Santana told business owners in Princes Town that such requests must be made early to ensure officers were available.
Speaking at the launch of the Safe Town Initiative for Christmas at the Princes Town promenade, Santana said instructions to provide the service already have been given to stations around the Southern Division.
He added: “I want to encourage members of the public and the business community to make use of the services that are available, not only at the Princes Town Police Station, but throughout all the police stations in the Southern Division. “I want to invite you, especially the business owners, that if ever there is a need for you to transport large sums to money, you can call the police and let them know what you need. “I have given instructions that arrangements must be made to have police escort you with your valuables to whatever institutions you want to take it. We would not want you to be robbed of what you worked hard for.”
The plan was welcomed by executive member of the Princes Town Business Association Alicia Donna Ali. She said while Princes Town did not have a high crime rate, there were instances of purse snatching during the Christmas season. She said a major problem within the town’s shopping centre was traffic congestion.
As senior police officers walked around the town, giving out safety tip brochures, Supt Zamsheed Mohammed warned shoppers about wearing too much jewelery. He said there were many purse-snatchers and pickpockets who come out during the Christmas season.
He also warned to be on the lookout for “ficticious needy cases” and con artists who would try to scam people out of their hard earned dollars.
Christmas Safety Tips
• Do not overburden yourself with shopping bags.
• Be on the lookout for counterfeit money.
• Avoid wearing excessive jewelry.
• Do not use arcades, toy stores and cinemas as daycares as there may be predators around.
• Put name tags on children in case they get lost while shopping.
• Avoid withdrawing large sums of money from banks.
• Avoid walking while talking on cellphones.
• Avoid leaving ladders and scaffoldings around your house.
• Do not leave spare keys under rugs and plant pots.
• If you are going away for the Christmas, buy a security light or have someone look after your house.
