Holidays in Las Vegas are terrific! You can have the best of both worlds. Quiet cozy times at home with the option of tons of things to do once you’ve finished opening gifts or having family dinner. Such an assortment of “good time having” options can also serve as distractions likely to diminish what I’ve called situational awareness, which should actually be at a heightened state this time of year. This could leave you vulnerable to a variety of criminal acts. Especially the ones that are least expected. With all of the good times to be had, try your very best to maintain a state of mind likely to avoid crime. Here’s a few guidelines that might help.

Christmas

1. The distractions of last minute shopping
Have you ever been in a huge rush and began to forget things? Your keys, your wallet, ingredients at the store, or to lock your door? Don’t let the rush for the last video game system or repeated trips to the grocery store (man do I hate those!) leave you vulnerable. Here’s a couple of tips that might help:

– Keep an eye on your property. Don’t leave a cart with your purse unattended or leave your wallet on the cashier stand while you empty your cart onto the conveyor belt.

– Multitasking while in certain situations can be a bad idea. When you’re unloading your groceries is an example. Keep your head up when placing them into your vehicle. Also, don’t hinder your own movement. I once viewed surveillance footage when a victim tripped over a shopping cart because they’d placed it in front of their only path of escape. A better idea would be to place the cart in a location likely to block the advance of an attacker thus giving you more time to flee.

2. Home issues
Burglaries and home invasions were not what I had in mind when speaking of home issues. Although there is a rise in these crimes during the holiday season, the rise in domestic violence is far more substantial. Since the potential suspect can’t be avoided, try keeping things as peaceful as possible at home during the holiday season. Try to control alcohol intake and remain patient when visiting with friends and relatives with whom you usually have conflict.

An abuse victim once told me that she intentionally downplays the importance of gifts prior to and during the holiday season after her abuser once became violent because he couldn’t afford them and she could. While getting out of that relationship is obviously ideal over appeasing her abuser, her experience illustrates the point that one should take steps to put less stress on relatives during the holidays.

New Year’s Eve

3. Crowds and Socializing
Las Vegas is the home of a New Years celebration 2nd in size only to the one in New York City’s Time Square. A crowd can present many dangers.
– Always avoid densely packed areas.
– Avoid individuals with large items that can cause harm if there is unrest within the crowd.
– If you drink, always try to keep your drink with you, even if you are partying with friends. Protecting your drink is a great habit to start and maintain.

4. The group
The phrase that, “there’s strength in numbers,” has been popular for quite some time and unless you’re attacking a few Spartans in Northern Greece you can assume it’s true. This is the most simple crime prevention tactic. Individuals are attacked exponentially more often that two or more people.

5. The drive home
Skillful “drunk dodging” is of the utmost importance during the drive home. Do not try to “hold your ground” when someone is weaving into your lane just because you have the right of way. Avoid other drivers at the conclusion of your New Year’s celebration. The first part of the task is to make sure that you aren’t one of the drunks. A designated driver or hotel room can solve this problem. Also there will be multiple non-profit organizations offering free rides that will begin to advertise over the next two weeks. Secondly, implement some of the methods in this article on traffic safety and increase the spacing between other vehicles and yours. Your likelihood of returning home safe will be significant.

There is a rise in the crimes that occur during the holidays, and that rise can mostly come from unexpected places. Don’t let unfortunate incidents ruin your celebration. As this year’s holiday season reaches its climax, remember to practice crime prevention methods to increase your safety.