THREE HOLIDAY THEFT CRIMES

The holiday season always leads to a rise in theft crimes as criminals look to capitalize on the frenzy of gift shopping in numerous ways. Today, skilled criminals continue to find new ways to capitalize on the information being passed around in the digital sphere as much as the physical world, often leading to even bigger losses for victims. On this blog, we examine three common holiday theft crimes and what to do if you are arrested and charged with one this holiday season.

Shoplifting

Brick-and-mortar retail stores are some of the biggest theft crime victims every holiday season. Shop owners will frequently stock up on inventory and refill the shelves to try to capitalize on the annual gift shopping craze, but this unfortunately leaves a lot of stores more open and vulnerable to shoplifters, particularly small stores that cannot afford extensive loss-prevention efforts. Expect to see an increase in security and law enforcement around shopping centers and a zero-tolerance policy on shoplifters.

Identity Theft

Are you doing online shopping for holiday gifts this season? More and more people buy at least one of their gifts online every year, and skilled thieves will utilize this opportunity to try to steal valuable personally identifiable information. Be sure you regularly sweep your system for viruses and other malicious software, and don’t enter any information into a website unless you are sure it is legitimate.

Burglary

The holiday season is a popular time for many people to travel. Combined with gift shopping, empty homes become prime targets for burglars to break in and make off with your valuables. For many years, burglars would scout neighborhoods using a number of methods to avoid suspicion, but today’s criminals can do so without even leaving their home. Many people will frequently post about leaving town on social media, telling would-be perpetrators that their home is empty and ripe for the pickings. Be careful what you put on the internet, you never know who could be watching.

If you are accused of a theft crime this holiday season, do not hesitate to seek legal defense counsel from a Fort Worth criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The Law Office of A. Oliver Hassibi has represented clients accused of all types of theft crimes for many years, and we are 100% committed to obtaining a successful outcome to your case on your behalf. We understand the severity of the charges against you, and aggressively protect your rights and fight to clear your name from your charges.Call the Law Office of A. Oliver Hassibi today at (817) 826-9821 for a free initial consultation if you or a loved one has been accused of a theft crime this holiday season.