Police bolster patrols, target holiday thefts

As shoppers flock to malls and shopping centers this holiday season, Las Vegas police are boosting patrols to keep predators at bay.

Black Friday marked the official start of the Holiday Safety Initiative, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's annual surge of patrol and plainclothes officers to shopping centers.

The goal is to reduce the number of robberies, car burglaries and thefts committed against holiday shoppers, who often carry more money than usual and buy big-ticket items, Capt. Christopher Darcy said.

As the economy continues its downturn, Darcy said, it's important to be aware of holiday predators and use common sense.

"People can disagree if crime goes up or down in a bad economy all they want," he said. "We are going to take precautions that ... provide a level of safety no matter what."

This year is the fifth that Las Vegas police have added patrols to high-traffic shopping centers. Officers patrol during their regular shifts, Darcy said

They are being dispatched to locations such as Wal-Mart, Target and high-end department stores across Las Vegas Valley.

Darcy said most holiday-related crime occurs in parking lots. He advised shoppers to park as close as possible to a store, lock vehicle doors and stay aware of the surroundings.

He also said shoppers should never leave items visible in the car.

"Don't let your guard down just because you're in a hurry," he said.

Darcy added that precautions such as keeping purses close to the body and not shopping alone can make a difference.

"The whole focus of the initiative is first to prevent crimes and second to cause apprehension: Crooks will see us," he said.