Pearland Police to Increase Patrols for the Holidays

Shoppers are not the only ones who will frequent businesses in Pearland: there are criminals who will use the holidays to target victims who may be distracted by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. In response, the Pearland Police Department has allocated additional manpower in both marked and unmarked vehicles to patrol shopping centers and retail establishments. Citizens can expect to see an increase in the number of contacts between citizens and police for the next few weeks.  This targeted enforcement seeks to deter criminals from coming to Pearland and increase the likelihood that offenders will be caught.

Specific points of vulnerability for shoppers include the following:

• Those times when leaving and returning to vehicles
• Purses or wallets left unattended in shopping carts
• Valuables left in plain view in vehicles

To help police enforcement efforts, the Pearland Police Department offers the following safety tips:

• Carry your cell phone in a pocket or on a clip; not in a purse or bag. If you are a victim of crime, call police immediately.
• When leaving and returning to your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings.  Keep wallets and purses securely tucked under your arm and do not carry more bags than necessary.  
• If you observe any suspicious circumstances, report it to the police
• When shopping, keep wallets and purses zipped close and within you view at all times. 
• Thieves may seek to steal credit cards, cash or checks.
• Do not to leave any items of value in plain view in  your vehicle. All electronic items, 
• wallets and purses should be taken out of the vehicle and all vehicles need to be locked. 

Citizens can help police by reporting all suspicious persons to the Pearland Police Department at 281-997-4100.  Call 911 to report crimes in progress.  Working together we can make this a safer holiday season!