Retired Reno Police Lt. Joey Walker, a self-defense instructor, said muggings and burglaries are common holiday crimes and talks about how to be safe
The holiday season has already included several high-profile crimes, including the fatal stabbing of a Macy’s security guard and two active shooter situations in Texas and Las Vegas.
Retired Reno Police Lt. Joey Walker, who teaches self-defense to civilians, predicted this spike in violent crime in an interview with Fox News Digital last week.
He followed up with safety tips for holiday shoppers and fun-seeking elves to protect themselves in various situations, along with indicators of potential trouble and what typical criminals consider “soft targets.”
“The holiday season is a time when family and friends come together for celebrations and visit stores to shop for presents for the special ones in their lives,” Walker said. “Although those times can be joyous for many, they’re also situations where criminals purposely target innocent people.”
Holiday crimes accounted for 8.1% of all crimes committed in 2021, according to a November 2022 Porch Research study, which highlighted surging reports of burglary, theft and scams.
Workplace and domestic violence fueled by excessive drinking, heightened emotions, depression and financial stress spike this time of the year.
Walker doesn’t want holiday shoppers to be crippled with fear. Instead, he wants them armed with knowledge like these five tips to be safe.
“Knowing this allows us to be forewarned to protect ourselves from criminal offenders,” he said.
Know your surroundings
“One of the first things we should do to prepare ourselves is to be aware of our surroundings and the people within our immediate environment,” Walker told Fox News Digital.
“We cannot afford to miss important clues that may alert us that a crime is occurring or about to occur in our presence.”
Specifically, he said to look for people loitering in a certain spot, pay attention to their appearance and note their behavior. For example, does someone or a group seem like they’re coming closer or do you think they’ve been following you since you left a store?
