Christmas (or the Holidays for you godless liberals on the front lines of the War on Christmas) is a make or break month for many businesses, including criminal enterprises.

Burglars, robbers and car thieves will be up to their usual schemes. Decatur Police plan on distributing weekly tips in hopes of foiling the Grinch’s mischief.

“Instead of blasting you with a one-time long list of warnings and ‘do-nots’ the week of Thanksgiving, we are going to send out weekly tips, by topic, so you will have a chance to digest the information,” Police Sgt. Jennifer Ross said via email. “Most of us know the basics but we can all use reminders as we get caught up in the hustle and bustle. We want everyone to have an enjoyable and safe holiday season through awareness rather than paranoia.”

Ross provided me with some additional stats going back to 2010. The data show that December 2012 was a record month for burglaries when compared with December of 2011 and 2010.

Sgt. Ross started the series with a list of tips on shopping safely.

From Sgt. Ross:

Personal Safety While Shopping

– Be alert and aware! It’s easy to be distracted by the crowds, selecting the right gift, being preoccupied with holiday activities.

– Keep shopping bags, valuables, purses, and wallets close to you. Keep purses or bags closed.

– Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion.

– Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason and watch out for friendly strangers. They may ask a question or offer to assist you with your bags to distract you or put you in a compromising situation. At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

– Stay alert while you are walking to your car. Talking or texting on your phone or digging in your purse for your keys while walking is a distraction and makes you an easy target.