BART Keeps Shopper Safety In Mind
OAKLAND (KCBS) _ Excessive holiday shopping and credit card use can certainly make your head spin, but shoppers also need to keep their heads on a swivel when walking around with bags in hand.
BART Community Services Officer Lauren LaPlante said this is the time of year when would-be robbers scope out vulnerable victims, specifically single women carrying multiple shopping bags from the BART platform to their car in the parking lot.
"If you can do your shopping during the day, that's your best bet. If you do shop and night falls, have a friend around," LaPlante said. "It makes it more fun and helps out for safety reasons."
KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:
She said BART police officers will be out in force the next several days, making their presence known throughout the system.
Shopper Patti was getting in some Black Friday shopping at the Best Buy in Emeryville and said this is not just an issue at BART. Shoppers need to be aware of their surroundings wherever they go.
"Society has just gotten to the point where you need to be really cautious of your surroundings and people that are in it," she said. "Society has led us to be a little bit safer this year."
Patti said she always does her best not to flash a lot of cash around, which might attract someone with nefarious intentions.
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