MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz had a message for thieves on Friday: The “Grinch busters” are out in force to protect shoppers in Miami-Dade County.
During a news conference at Dadeland Mall in Kendall, Cordero-Stutz also asked shoppers to take preventive measures to avoid becoming victims of crimes.
“Make sure you park in well-lit areas, don’t walk around with big wads of cash,” Cordero-Stutz said.
Other tips from law enforcement include paying attention to your surroundings since criminals often exploit distractions. Other tips: Secure your belongings, and keep your car locked.
“If you buy something online, you need to meet a person, meet them at a police station,” Cordero-Stutz said.
Since crime tends to increase during Black Friday and Holiday shopping seasons, law enforcement agencies have been announcing operations.
After a violent robbery inside Dolphin Mall earlier this month, the Sweetwater Police Department announced a new mobile station will be at the mall through December.
While patrolling the Dolphin Mall’s parking lot, Miami-Dade Deputy Orlando Fleites said he was searching for “people lingering and walking in between cars” and “sitting in a car for an extended period of time.”
Fleites said shoppers needed to avoid getting distracted with their phones so they can stay alert and avoid becoming easy prey.
“Someone could be following you,” Fleites said.
U.S. Secret Service agents reported that criminals are also targeting their victims with calls, text messages, and e-mails to try to trick them with information about their online purchases.
The agents warned the criminals’ tactics include fooling their victims into thinking that an online payment was declined, so they need to provide a form of payment or personal information.
Earlier this month, criminals impersonated bank employees through a computer and phone to manipulate a man into withdrawing nearly $60,000 in cash from his bank account.
The manipulative tactics were such that the theft victim --who used a Bitcoin ATM in Sunrise -- thought he was following instructions to keep his money safe from thieves, according to the police report in the case.
Federal agents also asked the public to stay away from unrecognizable online services offering good deals and to avoid scanning QR codes that could be used to get access to their mobile phones and bank apps.
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