Shoppers advised to be aware of their surroundings

Be aware of your surroundings!

That’s the message from Crime Prevention Officer with The Barbados Police Service, Inspector Roger Babb, to shoppers this yuletide season.

Inspector Babb expressed the view that persons could considerably lessen the risk of being victims of robbery by protecting themselves and their personal property.

The safety tips Inspector Babb shared are:

• Know your surroundings.
• Pay attention to the people around you and watch for any suspicious behaviour.
• Go to a busy area if you suspect you are being followed.
• Stay in well-lit areas as much as possible.
• Stay with the crowd – there is safety in numbers.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewellery, as that action will draw attention to you.
• Do not display a lot of money when purchasing items.
• Have your car keys in hand when walking to your vehicle and immediately lock the doors on entering it.

If confronted by an assailant carrying a weapon, do not resist. If attacked, stay calm, evaluate options, and keep assessing the situation as it unfolds. Observe the attacker carefully for future identification purposes. Call 211 and report the incident to the police.

(BGIS)