MPD Chief Stahl offers holiday safety tips

Maricopa residents are asked to take extra care this holiday season and be wary when handing over credit cards or personal information.

At the monthly Coffee with the Chief meeting Saturday at police headquarters in the city's new civic plaza, Police Chief Steve Stahl stressed the importance of keeping one’s identity safe and shared simple ways to help protect oneself from identity theft.

“Make sure that the places you are shopping ask for a picture ID of you when you are using that credit card,” Stahl said. “We want places to get into the habit of asking for that photo ID all of the time comparing the face to the name on the credit card.”

Stahl advised anyone getting strange phone calls or emails to notify the proper authorities.

“We can’t do anything collectively, criminal justicewise, if you don’t report it. If you’re just deleting it and saying, ‘Well someone else will get it down the line,’ a hundred people may be thinking the same thing,” Stahl said.

On top of keeping one’s identity safe, Stahl said there are ways to protect against getting one’s car stolen. The number of vehicle burglaries increases during the holiday season and it is important to make one’s vehicle less attractive to potential thieves.

Removing visible objects such as a GPS, cellphones or packages can go a long way in preventing a vehicle from being broken into, he said.

Stahl asked Maricopa residents to be aware and vigilant at all times, and to be good witnesses for the community at large.

Click here for more holiday shopping safety tips.