By TAMARA DELANEY

Freeport News Reporter

tdelaney@nasguard.com

BEEFING UP — A security officer stands guard at the Solomon's Wholesale store. As the Christmas holidays draw near, Grand Bahama authorities are encouraging local business places to beef up security, as crime tends to increase this time of year.

(Photo by JENNEVA RUSSELL)

The Yuletide season is approaching and local businesses are getting some sound advice from some of the Royal Bahamas Police Force's elite on taking proper security measures.

Inspector Loretta Mackey said that local business owners are encouraged to establish a better communication line with authorities, especially as the days dwindle down to Christmas.

"We met with all of our Urban Renewal teams and their commanders, the fire department and police officers last Friday," said Mackey. "In the meeting, we complied information that included various safety tips for local businesses and we found it necessary that owners have some kind of communication with us during this time of year because crime tends to increase."

That communication, she said, involves a few procedures intended to increase the level of security.

"Since it is the holidays and owners are more prone to getting robbed, we ask that businesses contact us for assistance when they are delivering their deposits," Mackey said. "We also ask them to take different routes when they are going home at night. We will provide telephone numbers for this information in the future."

Mackey also advised owners to keep their area well lit and to open and close their stores with someone at their side.

"Usually businesses tend to have their stores open longer during the holidays as opposed to the rest of the year, which is why they should be more careful of their surroundings as it gets late into the night," she said. "It is important for them to be mindful of their customers as far as their safety."

According to the inspector, customers are reminded to also be aware of their environment because they too can become an easy target.

"Should customers coming out of the store be attacked or robbed they are to try and get as much information as possible about their assailant," she said. "Information regarding a car license plate number, the person's description and which direction they had fled are also helpful tips for us as authorities."

Beginning November 20, Mackey revealed that officers will patrol business areas and pass out flyers containing various safety information for the holidays.

This, she explained, will be a major asset to taking better safety precautions, better awareness and lower crime.

However, after speaking to some local businesses, they too have a plan in place for securing themselves for this holiday season.

"Before the Christmas, our routine safety measures would be to put up shutters and such but since we stay open two weeks prior to the Christmas, security is definitely marked up higher," said a Freeport Jewellers representative. "During this time we enlist a security guard. He is usually in plain clothing and throughout the store looking for anyone or anything suspicious. This is all put in place to ensure safety."

The representative said that the guard and male employees also take the responsibility in escorting female workers to their cars.

"We usually walk them to the cars because since we stay open later in the evenings, we have to make sure that they leave safe just as they came in."

Grand Bahama Millwork General Manager Keith Worrell said security measures are definitely "beefed up" so that both customers and employees feel secure.

"We do take extra precautionary measures when it comes to the holidays," he said. "It's for both staff and our customers. We try to provide a level of security throughout the year, but we do even more so during the Christmas because we know it is a time when most businesses are targeted."