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City of Edina 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Lauren Siebenaler, Communications Intern
Phone 952-833-9522 commintern@EdinaMN.gov EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Focus on Personal Safety and Theft Prevention this Holiday
Season
Edina, Minn., Dec. 8, 2016 –The Edina Police Department has some tips on how to stay safe and secure
this holiday shopping season.
“The biggest thing to remember is that we should follow the same rules that we teach our kids,” said Officer
Keith Boerger. “Stay away from strangers, don't leave your stuff lying around, pay attention to where you are
going and be careful on the internet. If we follow those rules, we will set a good example for our children and
will make ourselves less likely to be the victims of crimes.”
Tips for personal safety:
Safety in numbers. Go out with another person when you can. If you have to be alone, share your
plans with someone else.
Don't make yourself a target. Pay attention to your surroundings and don't appear distracted. Walk
with your head up and with your phone in your purse/pocket. It will also help you spot suspicious
circumstances before it is too late.
Don't go quietly. If anyone attempts to attack you, yell and scream "stranger" and "call police." Kick,
bite, punch and do anything else it takes to get away. If you draw attention to yourself, you will also
draw attention to the criminal and they don't like that.
Tips to prevent theft:
Don't leave personal items unattended. A theft can happen very quickly and in any place.
Photocopy the backs of all your credit/debit cards and keep that copy in a safe place. It will help you
contact all your banks in a timely manner in case the cards are lost or stolen.
Don't let your credit/debit card leave your sight. It is quick and easy for a store employee to copy
your card information when you are not looking.
Double check your browser when paying for an item online. If the URL does not start with “https://”
it is not secure and could be a scam. The ‘s’ stands for “secure browser.”
Keep up to date on the most recent scams such as the “Bank Examiner” scam and the “Grandparent”
scam. Don’t give out bank account numbers or personal information over the phone. Also, remember
to slow down and ask lots of questions.
Call the Edina Police Department’s non-emergency phone number with any questions, 952-826-1610.
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