By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster Police Department will increase it patrols at the Propst Promenade and South Promenade shopping centers significantly over the next several weeks in an effort to keep shoppers safe.

Throughout the holiday shopping season, the department will increase it presence at the two shopping centers by about 300 percent, it said.

“Uniformed officers will be present conducting roaming patrols and foot patrols in an effort to ease the minds of shoppers and deter criminal activity. Uniformed officers will be on foot inside and outside of the businesses,” read a Nov. 21 post on the department’s Facebook page. “APD will also have non-uniformed officers working during the holidays. These officers will also be conducting roaming and foot patrols. Non-uniformed officers will be diligently working to curb any criminal activity inside the businesses and in the parking lots.”

Officers said the patrols are intended to combat a rising trend of criminal activity during the holiday season throughout the nation.

“While criminal activity overall is generally rare in Alabaster, there is unfortunately a trend of increasing criminal activity during the Christmas holidays. APD will be taking a vigorous stance to proactively prevent and address any issues at the Promenade,” read the post. “We value the funding priority our Mayor and council place on making sure there are the resources to do our best at keeping these shopping areas as safe as possible.”

The department issued the following tips for those who are out shopping during the pre-Christmas season.

 

–Do not leave packages visible in your car windows.
–Keep all purses and bags zipped and snapped closed.
-Do not flash large amounts of cash when paying for merchandise.
–Do not leave purses, bags, cell phones or any other high dollar items in plain view in your vehicle.
–Make sure to always lock your vehicle and make sure the windows are up when unattended. The number of thefts from locked vehicles in our area is extremely low.
–Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you.
–If shopping with kids, have a plan in case you get separated. For the older children, have a central meeting spot designated. For the younger children, teach them to go to a store clerk or police officer if you get separated. Be sure they know your name (not just mommy and daddy), cell phone number and their address. Go over the dangers of strangers with them so they know who not to talk to or follow.
–Double check that you have your credit cards and checkbook after you pay for your items.