Nov. 21--With Black Friday quickly approaching, the West Palm Beach Police Department has already created an attack plan in an attempt to prevent holiday shopping crimes before they happen.
The department will be deploying extra officers to certain areas in West Palm Beach, including Clematis Street, CityPlace, the Palm Beach Lakes Corridor and Antique Row.
The officers will be on bike patrol, vehicle patrol and in plain clothes, West Palm Beach Police spokesman Capt. David Bernhardt said.
Bernhardt described the extra patrol as a way to "prevent crimes before they happen."
He said the department analyzed calls for service over the past two years during the holiday season and found that those areas were in need of extra officers.
While the department is doing what they can to prevent holiday shopping crimes, Bernhardt said it is also up to the shopper.
"Be vigilant, don't become a victim," he said.
He recommended to avoid driving at night, park in well-lit areas of shopping mall parking lots and to call police if shoppers see someone suspicious in the parking lot.
He also said never to leave gifts out in plain view and to look around at others when at the ATM.
"The West Palm Beach Police Department is concerned for the welfare of all its citizens -- those that live in the city and those that visit the city and conduct business here," Bernhardt said. "So for that reason we are taking this extra step in the redeployment of the officers."
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More holiday shopping tips can be read here.
Copyright 2012 - The Palm Beach Post, Fla.