Safe Holiday Shopping!

SAFE HOLIDAYS

Learn More on Our Website & Download Safe Shopping Tips for Shoppers & Merchants

http://www.da.state.nm.us/districts/second

 As we approach the holiday shopping season, we often hear safety tips for holiday shoppers.  It's important to take a minute to review them before running to enjoy the festivities. 

But, shoppers are not the only ones who should take a minute to think about safety during the busy holiday shopping season. 

We rarely talk about the impact crime has on retailers and businesses, but the economic impact can be big.  And, no business wants their customers or employees to be a victim of crime. The District Attorney's Office is already involved in efforts to combat retail crime and protect the bottom lines of our local businesses.  Partnerships with the City of Albuquerque, ARAPA, business groups and bank associations all help our businesses year-round. 

Today, we take a minute to review some unique programs the DA already offers to support our retailers, and new tips for making local shops safe and inviting for holiday shoppers: 

HELPING BUSINESSES

Tips for Preventing Losses Are Available on our Website:

http://www.da.state.nm.us/districts/second/SafeMerchants2010.pdf

Bad Check Restitution Program

·              In FY2010, we recovered $108,394.89 for Bernalillo County businesses at no cost to taxpayers.

·              132 new businesses joined the program, bringing our participating business group to over 300

·              We accepted 1,896 bad check cases last year for the restitution program

·              We prosecuted 243 offenders for Worthless Checks

Shoplifting Prevention

·            CYFD received 1,156 juvenile referrals for shoplifting in FY2010.  22.5% of all juvenile referrals were for shoplifting, by far the largest percentage.

·              Many shopliftings go unreported, though reporting helps to identify repeat offenders.

·              ARAPA alerts identify the most prolific offenders, often hitting 3-4 stores a day.

·              TIPS:

o        Report the incident to police

o        Bar the suspect.  Re-entry after prior barment to commit a new offense is felony.

PERSONAL SHOPPING SAFETY

Tips for Safe Holiday Shopping are Available on our Website:

http://www.da.state.nm.us/districts/second/SafeShoppers2010.pdf

ID THEFT

·              The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year.

·              Most are not reported to law enforcement, but instead are reported to banks. (Because financial institutions usually cover the losses and there are few, if any, leads on suspects)

·              155 defendants were charged with Identity Theft in Bernalillo County last year alone (FY2010).

·              129 additional defendants were charged with possessing stolen credit cards or fraudulently using them (again, under reported).

·              Each offender can account for dozens or hundreds IDs (Amber Tapia was recently sentenced to 25 years after an APD investigation linked her to over 450 stolen IDs)

·              On average, it takes 26 hours of dedicated time for a victim of identity theft to notify all banks & credit agencies, file and obtain reports and to clear up the damage caused by ID theft. (Consumer Trade Commission)

Fugitive of the Month: Mollie Stacey

On November 11, 2010 a Bernalillo County Grand Jury indicted Mollie Stacey on 13 felony counts related to her allegedly improperly obtaining public assistance.

An investigation by the Social Security Administration alleges that Stacey used a fraudulent social security number and made false statements to obtain approximately $293,000 in improper benefits, including cash payments, Medicaid payments, disability payments and food stamps.

Stacey is wanted out of Bernalillo County on an outstanding warrant (#20105682).

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this fugitive

should immediately contact law enforcement or

Crime Stoppers at 505-843-STOP