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The Most Wonderful (and Dangerous)
Time of the Year
Even if you think that it is still too early, the Christmas season is here. The long lines of kids at the mall waiting to see Santa and the even longer lines of adults looking for Christmas sales is sufficient proof that we are firmly in the middle of the Christmas crunch. Christmas means so many different things to people, according to who you talk to. Some love the decorations, others look forward to the gathering of friends and family, and others anxiously await the religious celebrations of a most important day. Kids, of course, have their hearts set on that favorite toy. But, all in all, Christmas as the old song says, should be the "the most wonderful time of the year." But is it?
Just as the majority of us go about this time of the year with excitement and anticipation of the season, there is also a segment of our society who will ruin this time for many of us. Unfortunately, as we go into this season, we cannot let our guard down against those who would do us harm. We must remember that there are those whose sole recognition of the holidays is to see just how drunk that they can get. And then that same person gets behind the wheel of a car and drives on the same streets that we travel as we go to visit family or go to our church services. We must be mindful that just as we stack our gifts under our trees, that there are people who will ride through neighborhoods, looking for a quick burglary that will allow your holiday season to be ruined.
We must remember that the holiday tradition of family Christmas shopping trips will take place at the same malls where would be thieves are lurking; just waiting for an opportunity to commit crimes such as stealing from your automobiles, car thefts, and robbery. We must be ever mindful that people who specialize in financial crimes see this as the prime time to steal this type of information from you at commercial retailers and credit card orders from the phone and computers. We must remember that there are plenty of scamsters who will be calling our homes for every "good cause" in the world hoping that you will donate. We must remember to look over our shoulder as we make transactions at our ATM machines to prevent thieves from taking advantage of us.
We must remember to keep an eye on our children while shopping based on the fact that we have people who look for any opportunity to take advantage of children for their own twisted satisfaction. Crowded shopping malls and retail outlets are the perfect venue for these animals to prowl, as they hope that you will be so interested in finding the perfect gift, that you will take your eyes of your kids...just for a second. That is all that it takes. Talk to your kids before you go to the malls and make sure that they understand the importance of staying close to you.
If it is starting to sound like a bleak picture of the most wonderful time of the year, that is because it very well can be. Dropping your guard, because we are caught up in the moment, can be the catalyst for the worst Christmas that you have ever had. However, by using common sense and practicing those same methods that you use to protect your family and your belongings all year long, it will be the most wonderful time of the year. We can all have a safe and Happy Holiday season by simply making the effort to ensure that we do not become targets of those who use this time for criminal gain.
Here's to you and your family during the Holiday Season! Let's make it a safe one.
For further information, visit www.voice4victims.com
If you are interested in having Mr. Hall speak at your next club or group meeting, please email contact information to:
SHallBadgeNotes@aol.com
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