10 Days of Holiday Safety

Introducing the 10 Days of Holiday Safety! Share these simple tips with friends and neighbors - protecting your home and community is a shared responsibility.

The City wishes you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season!

Day 1: See Something, Say Something!

Be aware of your surroundings. If you see something suspicious, call the Lomita Sheriff’s Station at 310-539-1661 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.  

Day 2: Prevent Package Theft

Arrange for delivery alerts and retrieve your packages as soon as they are delivered. If you cannot retrieve your package, ask a neighbor to bring it in for you, or have the package shipped to the store.

Day 3: Secure Your Vehicle

Prevent thefts from your vehicle by always locking car doors and never leaving bags or valuables in plain view.  Remove all valuable items from your car, including purses and electronics. If you must leave valuables behind, put them in your trunk or locked glovebox before you reach your destination. Close all windows and lock your doors. Park in a locked garage or well-lit areas.

Be cautious about putting identifying stickers on your vehicles, such as “family descriptor” stickers, parking permits, or stickers of where you like to visit.  Perpetrators can use the decals to identify people in your household, where you work, or where you may be vacationing (such as going on ski trips).  When possible, keep parking permit stickers detached from your windshield and only display it on your dashboard when necessary.

Day 4: Secure Your Home

Lock all windows and doors when sleeping or when leaving your home. Use a timer for your lights so your house looks occupied. Avoid displaying valuables in windows.

Ask to see identification from anyone who comes to your door.

Utilize home alarms, guard animals, signage, security systems, and trimmed landscaping to create sufficient protections for your property.

Day 5: Shop Safely

Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse under your arm. Keep a wallet in an inside jacket pocket, not a back trouser pocket.  Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Do not leave purses or wallets unattended. Be aware when leaving malls or restaurants that you are not being followed.

Do not engage with criminals.  If you find yourself a victim of a crime, do not chase down the suspects.  Get a description and a license plate and call the Lomita Sheriff’s Station at 9-1-1 or 310-539-1661.

Day 6: Join Neighborhood Watch!

RPV Neighborhood Watch is a volunteer-based, resident-run program that encourages neighbors looking out for neighbors to reduce crime.

For more information or to join, visit rpvca.gov/NeighborhoodWatch. 

Day 7: Cyber Safety

Cybercriminals use sophisticated techniques to appear legitimate in order to conduct identity theft, phishing schemes, credit card fraud and more. Fortunately, making safer and smarter decisions online can be as simple as following these tips: use multi-factor authentication, limit the amount of personal information you post on social media sites, beware of any requests to update or confirm your personal information, and avoid opening attachments or clicking on links from unknown senders or companies that ask for your personal information – even if the email appears legitimate.  For more information and details on common scams, visit Cyber Scam Prevention Tips.

Day 8: Deter Holiday Thieves

Avoid displaying gifts and valuables in windows. Break down gift boxes and place them in dark trash bags to avoid advertising holiday gifts on trash day.

Day 9: Practice Your 9PM Routine

Every night at 9pm, the community is encouraged to lock all gates and doors including side gates and garage doors, turn on exterior lights or set them on a timer if you plan to be away, and remove all valuables from plain view.

Day 10: Travel Safely

Be mindful of sharing holiday travel plans online – sharing vacation details can alert criminals when you are not home. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your home and collect any packages and mail.  Set lights on a timer so your home looks occupied and make sure all doors and windows are locked when you leave.  When on vacation, know the locations of local law enforcement stations and phone numbers.   Always keep your hotel door locked and never answer it for someone you don’t know.