Four Common Holiday Crimes

While the holidays may bring joy and cheer to many people, they also mean increased workloads for law enforcement, as a number of crimes see an uptick in occurrences during this season. In this blog, we take a look at four of the most commonly-occurring holiday crimes and what law enforcement will have their eyes out for over the next month or so.

Shoplifting

Retail stores of all sizes will frequently increase their security and loss-prevention measures during the holiday shopping season, as there is no doubt they will face numerous different shoplifting attempts. Theft from a retail establishment is exceedingly common during the holidays, and law enforcement will frequently tighten up their standards in an effort to discourage would-be criminals. If you are charged with shoplifting in Denver, your penalties will vary based on the value of the item you stole or attempted to steal, ranging between a class 2 misdemeanor and a class 3 felony.

Identity Theft

Online shopping continues to grow every year, as does the number of cases of identity theft. Hackers and thieves increase their efforts to break into your computer or hide malicious, information-stealing software in your system. Be sure to sweep your computer clean with a virus scanner before making any online purchases. Likewise, always keep your wallet hidden on your person. Some sneaky thieves can build devices that read credit card information by just getting a sensor close to a card, so hiding your wallet will prevent them from attempting to scan you without drawing attention to themselves.

Burglary

Noticing a theme? Theft is common around the holidays.

Remember the bumbling burglars from the movie Home Alone? They picked the houses to rob by scouting a neighborhood disguised in a plumbing van. This way they could scout who was home and who would be gone on vacation to pick easier targets. While this does still happen, criminals have it much easier today in the era of social media. Be careful about posting when you are leaving town, as you could be making your home an easy target for a burglar.

DUI

The holidays can mean holiday parties with family, friends, or co-workers, and that could mean alcohol flowing freely. Be responsible this holiday season, because police step up their search for intoxicated drivers. Nothing puts a damper on the holidays like a hearing because you tried to drive home after having a little too much eggnog at the office party.

If you are facing charges of these or any other criminal acts this holiday season, do not hesitate to seek out a high-quality legal defense from a skilled Denver criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. At the Law Office of Joseph A. Lazzara, P.C., my team and I have focused our practice on assisting those facing the harshness of the criminal justice system. I have a history of excellence and success in defending my clients both in and out of the courtroom thanks to an approach that emphasizes preparedness, thorough research, and unwavering dedication to my client’s needs throughout their case.