Crime & Safety

Howard County Police Increasing Patrols

Holiday measures being put in place.

There will be more Howard County police officers on patrol over the next several weeks – in police cars, on foot and on bicycles, clad in uniforms or dressed in plainclothes, the department announced Wednesday.

The increased patrols will run from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, as the department seeks to prevent robberies, shoplifting, theft and other crimes that happen at shopping centers.

And as for the madhouse that is parking for holiday shopping, police will also focus on parking violations, including people leaving their cars in fire lanes or illegally parking in spaces reserved for the handicapped.

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Traffic laws will be "aggressively enforced" as well, police said, including watching for people driving while impaired, speeding, or violating seat belt and child safety seat laws.

And in December, there will be "DUI saturation patrols," as police look for drunk drivers. An average of five drivers die in Maryland during this time period each year due to an impaired driving crash, according to the State Highway Administration.

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And on a related note, General Growth Properties is bringing in German shepherds to patrol The Mall in Columbia and other malls it owns, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Police have several safety tips for holiday shoppers:

  • When shopping, travel with a group or in pairs, and schedule shopping trips during the day. 
  • Stay alert, especially when carrying packages or walking on a parking lot or in a garage. 
  • Avoid carrying too many packages, and leave one hand free to access keys or a phone quickly. 
  • Park in a well-lighted parking space, and select an area where there are other cars and foot traffic. 
  • Don't leave cell phones, purses or other valuables in a parked car – especially in plain view. 
  • When loading packages into the car, use the trunk instead of the back seat, or make an extra trip home in between shopping trips to unload packages. 
  • Beware of strangers approaching you unsolicited. If you feel uncomfortable, walk in another direction. It possible, walk back toward the store or toward another person. 
  • Shop only with reputable online retailers that offer secure transactions. 
  • If you are expecting a delivery, ask a neighbor to bring the packages inside if you will not be home. 
  • When the holidays are over, don't put boxes for electronics or valuables in plain view on recycling day. Collapse boxes, and put them in your recycling cart or bind them with rope or tape to prevent attracting a burglar.


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