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Twelve Days of Safety ~~ on the Fourth Day

By
Mortgage and Lending with Hill Valley Financial Services

While you are relaxing and pampering yourself, please make sure that you are protecting your assets.  Todays safety focus is in regards to automobile theft.  Both the theft of the goods in your vehicle and the possibility of your car being stolen!  During the holiday season, most of us are giving and loving.  There are, however, those common criminals as I call them.  While I am sure they have a valid sob story of a mother who did not pay enough attention to them (said with dripping sarcasm), I am hoping to keep you and your belongings safe.  So...to follow are a few tips to detour criminals from lurking around your things, your car, and even you!

thief breaking into a car

  • When you are in a parking area, please make sure that you park near a light.  While you may not plan on spending all day at the mall, outlet stores, or grocery store...better safe than sorry.  I want you to be parking near a light.  Past criminals have admitted that the cars furthest away from the lights are those they would target the most.  So...park near a lamp post, neon sign, or anything to shed some light on your car and your safety, really.
  • Place bags, packages, pretty much everything in the trunk of your car ~ or an otherwise un-visible area.  The more temptations there are for someone to see through the windows, the higher the likelihood of those goods being stolen.
  • When walking out to your vehicle, please be aware of your surroundings.  Especially during evening and nighttime, pay attention to all of the sounds, smells, and the feelings you have regarding your safety.  Our "hunches" or intuition are, I believe, God guiding us.  He wants what is best for us, He loves us, and He tries to protect us.  Victims of a crime often say they wish they had followed their instinct...their gut!  So trust yourself and be careful.
  • LOCK YOUR CAR!  If you have an alarm system, set it.  It is easy to be bustling about and forget the most basic of things.  It will, however, prevent bad things from happening, just by taking a few moments to ensure your safety.
  • Last but not least, to keep ourselves safe, we should spend time making sure that others are safe.  Help the elderly woman get to her car safely.  Watch for suspicious activity...again, paying attention to your gut instinct.  When we do unto others, it will be done unto us!

Gifts galore

I know that this one is a bit more of a downer, but I find being proactive is much easier than reacting to the ickiness of what can be.  Enjoy your last 12 days of Christmas.  I will be enjoying mine as I am watching, reading, and writing! 

In the event that you have missed the first three days, the links are provided below!  If you have not read them, please do and let me know your thoughts...  :)

Twelve Days of Safety ~ On the First Day

Twelve Days of Safety ~ On the Second Day

Twelve Days of Safety ~ On the Third Day

Comments (12)

Eric Webster
Five Star Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids, MI, Five Star Realty

Sarah,

Great post, and timely.  We can all use a reminder as we hurry about.  Nothing would take the fun out of the season more than being robbed or assaulted.


Merry Christmas!

Dec 13, 2007 03:24 AM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public
Eric ~  Thank you!  I agree completely.  Safety is so important both with ourselves and our belongings.  Thanks for commenting, and Merry Christmas to you, too!  :)
Dec 13, 2007 03:33 AM
Paul Slaybaugh
Homesmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate
This series is great and all, Sarah, but when are you going to get to the roving packs of angry, drunken elves?  What is a holiday safety report without the requisite belligerent knee-biter warning?
Dec 13, 2007 03:54 AM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public

Paul ~  I know that you are a bit ADHD or whatever.  But let me just say the following!!  Have patience my friend!  The first six or so will be real safety.  The other six will be a bit more random and off beat.  To be honest, I had not gone with the raging drunk elves.  Have you seen the new Fred Clause movie?  :)  But I may just be forced to warn the class of those.l  Not to give all of the secrets away, but there will be a Santa style safety alert!  Keep reading.  Soon, you will love what you are reading!  :)  Have a fantabulous day.

BTW, how do you know about raging drunken elves??  Personal experience ;)  You are too funny and bring smiles all of the time!

Dec 13, 2007 04:16 AM
Jennifer Monroe
Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate REALTOR®/Broker/Designer
Love Paul's comment! And any girl who uses the word 'ickiness' is a keeper in my book! So if you need a few tips on how to tame those drunken elves, just give me a whistle!
Dec 13, 2007 04:36 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
There can never be enough reminders ...and it's always good to have that panic button on our car keychain....if anything...the drunken elves will be holding their ears while we run. :)  I personally have an umbrella in my purse and car.....and have used it.....makes a good mini bat.
Dec 13, 2007 05:26 AM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public

Ms. Bukaty ~  Well hello, my dear!  :)  Thanks for keeping m around, and I may just need to get some tips on those drunken elves.  I heard that although they are small in size, they can be ticking time bombs...

As for Paul, he is a funny fella.  No arguing that!

Dec 13, 2007 08:33 AM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public
Hi Sally ~  Long time no talk.  We have all been busy!  Love the panic button on my key "fob", and I am not sure how drunk the elves get in Hawaii, but here in Oregon...it gets pretty wild.  And you have actually used an umbrella, huh??  How scary is that?
Dec 13, 2007 08:36 AM
Sal Poliandro - Helping People Win
RE/MAX Properties - Ridgewood, NJ
Broker Associate
Sarah - Great post!  Safety is very important and this one, in particular, is very important during the holidays when everyone will be out shopping late.
Dec 13, 2007 11:47 AM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public
Sal ~  Thank you for your comment!  I am happy to proivide the service!  :)  Stay safe...
Dec 13, 2007 11:48 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
With me coming after em...that is scary haha.
Dec 13, 2007 03:29 PM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public
i Sally ~  Watch out for those little buggers,  Paul says they are knee biters!
Dec 13, 2007 03:59 PM