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Avoid The Grinch At The Mall This Christmas Season

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Dec 22, 2008 11:12 pm US/Eastern

Avoid The Grinch At The Mall This Christmas Season

MIAMI (CBS4) ― Your safety is ultimately is in your hands: It's a message police want you to keep in mind this holiday season as you do your last minute shopping. Even with the presence of their "Grinchbusters" squad of officers at major malls, there are steps you can take to help you stay safe.

Miami-Dade Police Officer Oscar Piedra is one of those officers working the Grinchbuster detail, and his best days are when he has not Grinches to bust.

"Have a plan when you go shopping," said Piedra.

That plan is built around awareness, plain and simple.

A distracted shopper doesn't have a plan. She becomes an easy target for a snatch and grab robbery, and while shooting video for our story we found this kind of shopper is not alone. If you've got shopping bags on you, and are fumbling through your purse for the keys, you're an even easier target.

Be alert to your surroundings, especially in parking garages. Shop in groups whenever you can. Stay in well lit areas at night. Don't leave gift purchases in the car for the entire world to see at the mall, or on the way home. Ladies, keep your purses in front of you, not behind.

"So they can prevent pickpockets and things like that," said Officer Piedra.

And try not to weigh yourself down with so many bags that you're paying attention to nothing else.

It's a lesson Elena Iglesias takes to heart.

"I think I am better about," said Iglesias. "My husband always used to say 'Why wear so much jewelry?' That was years back."

Taking some simple precautions can help you avoid heartache at Christmas and year-round.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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