And speaking of criminals...

....no Miranda warning for the creep who pick-pocketed the iPhone of  a co-worker's daughter at a football game. It is that time of year, when theives try to steal your hard-earned stuff to give themselves some Christmas presents.
   Here are some tips from the Alabama Department of Public Safety!

• Use debit or credit cards if possible, or carry only enough money to pay for your errands. If carrying large amounts of money, separate the money into amounts needed and place them in different pockets.

• Be extremely careful using ATM machines. Use them in populated places and constantly pay attention to what is going on around you.

• If you have to carry a purse, carry it close to your body and always zipped.

• Park as close as possible to the mall or shopping center.

• Park in a well-lit location.

• Have your keys ready to open your vehicle before you exit the mall or shopping center.

• Remember exactly where you parked your vehicle.

• Avoid shopping until you are exhausted. You are more alert when you are less tired.

• When hurried or in a crowded shop, make sure you get all forms of identification and credit cards returned to you before leaving.

• Use an escort or mall security if you have too many packages or if you are leaving the mall after closing.

• Keep gifts or packages out of plain view inside your vehicle.

• Keep gifts hidden from view through outside windows of your residence.

• After opening gifts, break down the boxes of expensive electronics and high-end stores and put them in plastic bags to hide the fact you have valuable items in your home.

• Carry a cellular phone and have emergency phone numbers available.