SAFE HOLIDAYS
Learn More on Our Website & Download Safe Shopping Tips for Shoppers & Merchants
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:
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:
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)