Don't let crime ruin your holiday

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... unless you get ripped off!

There is no shortage of Grinches out there willing to make their holiday "happy" at the expense of others.

During the four weeks leading up to Christmas, an estimated $1.84 billion in merchandise will be shoplifted this year, according to the Global Retail Theft Barometer. That's about a 6 percent increase from last year.

Thieves have no trouble justifying their action -- the economy is bad, they lost their job, their kids will have to go without -- but for every necessity that is stolen, such as food or clothing, there are many more luxuries such as a tablet computer, designer sweater or video game.

More often than not, it's simple greed.

Surprisingly, according to a story by The Associated Press, three-quarters of shoplifters are adults, equally men and women, and nearly that many say their crime was spontaneous.

Their immoral gain is our pain -- shoplifting, organized retail crime, employee theft and vendor fraud -- cost retailers more than $119 billion worldwide last year, up nearly 7 percent from the previous year, and representing 1.45 percent of retailers' $986 billion in sales.

As noted, it's not just crooked customers. While 36 percent of losses come from shoplifting, employee theft represents about 44 percent, professional criminals who steal large amounts of goods and resell them account for 3 percent, and vendor theft and administrative error make up the remaining 17 percent.

Like all crime, we all pay. Will the U.S. be forced to adopt systems like those in third-world countries, where shoppers are forced to pay for items before they are retrieved from behind a cage and handed to us?

And it's not just retailers who suffer.

With the space under the tree crowded with presents, now's not the time to let down our guard at home.

The Trusted Choice independent insurance agents urge consumers to consider taking the following steps:

* Break down boxes for expensive electronics into small pieces and discard them in black trash bags.

* Keep gifts hidden from outside windows.

* Lock all doors and windows, even when leaving the home for a short time.

* Leave spare keys with a trusted neighbor rather than under doormats or in fake rocks.

* Indoor and outdoor lights on an automatic timer or motion sensor should be used whenever possible.

But don't let the fear of crime or disillusionment with fellow man ruin your holidays. Take a few simple precautions and you'll be able to afford to be generous with friends, loved ones and the more unfortunate.