Traditionally, the beginning of November signals the start of the Christmas shopping season.

The high street will get increasingly busy over the coming weeks as people head to the shops to make those all-important purchases for their friends and family.

Unfortunately, crowded places can also attract pickpockets and, with so much going on, it’s easy to get distracted and become more vulnerable to these opportunist thieves. The festive season can often prove stressful enough, without having to worry about cancelling stolen bank cards or losing money put aside to buy presents.

However, there are several steps you can take to keep your personal belongings more secure while out and about and I would urge people to consider using these methods if they don’t already do so.

Always use a handbag which can be properly fastened, preferably zipped, and wear it across your body rather than on one shoulder so it is more secure. Men should keep their wallets in the front pocket rather than back.

Make sure that you protect your PIN when making purchases with your card and withdrawing cash from ATMs. This will make your purse or wallet less attractive to a pickpocket.

It also won’t be long until the Christmas party season is in full flow, with more people heading out to the town’s clubs and bars to celebrate.

The vast majority of thefts reported to us connected to the night time economy are of mobile phones. With this in mind, I would urge people to please make sure you keep your phone with you at all times. Don’t leave it unattended while you go to the bar or bathroom and try not to use it in very crowded places where it could be snatched by an opportunist thief.

Anyone caught committing offences will be dealt with robustly but we’d rather be able to prevent these crimes from occurring in the first place, ensuring that everyone can have a safe and enjoyable festive season.

More advice on keeping yourself and your belongings safe all year round is available at http://www.herts.police.uk/advice/crime_prevention.aspx

Det Insp Kerry Bull

Watford Local Crime Unit