During the holidays, unpleasant events may occur, such as burglaries, thefts from cars, car thefts, qualified thefts, robberies, etc. There are a number of measures you can take to prevent them. Protect your property and reduce the chances of thieves.

For this purpose, Matija Breznik, an officer of the criminal police, and Leon Keder, a public relations officer, gave some useful advice and recommendations for better safety and emphasised the importance of self-protective behaviour.

When leaving your home

• Close and lock doors and windows;
• Switch on alarm devices;
• Do not put your keys in a "hidden place", such as a mailbox, under a doormat, plant pot, etc.;
• Do not leave valuables and money at home;
• Do not leave messages saying that you are away;
• Ask your neighbours or friends to collect your mail and tell them how they can reach you;
• Lock your car parked outside your house and put keys (and spare keys) and documents in a safe place;
• Do not leave tools or other accessories outside;
• Be sure to turn off gas and water taps and to unplug electrical devices;

If you stay at home

• Lock the doors;
• Do not open the door to strangers; be sure to have the door secured with a safety chain, especially if you are alone;
• Have the entrance door equipped with audio and video door phones and peepholes;

These recommendations are intended in particular for senior citizens and children when they are alone at home.

Matija Breznik, an officer of the criminal police, and Leon Keder, a public relations officer

In respect of car safety, the following is recommended:

• Park your car in a secured and well-lit parking lot or a garage;
• Lock your car (and lock the steering wheel), and switch on alarm or other security devices;
• Do not leave valuables in your car, such as handbags, wallets, documents, technical devices, like telephones, laptops, satellite navigation, expensive clothes, etc.;
• Protect luggage on roof racks against theft;

Beware of theft and qualified theft in shops, bars and restaurants and in the streets:

• Do not leave handbags unattended;
• Do not show your money, credit cards and other valuables in public;
• Do not leave your flat and car keys inadequately secured;
• Take care of your children; teach them what to do if they get lost in a crowd (to approach a police officer or a warder);
• Take care of your own safety by avoiding walking in dark streets, passages and problematic places;
• Beware of persons watching or pursuing you when drawing cash from an ATM, at a bank or a post office;
• Keep your money and other valuables on you (in an inner pocket or in a waist bag)to be safe from pickpockets;
• Beware of firecrackers, rockets, weapons and other flying objects, such as glasses and bottles, find a safer place to stand, if possible, and avoid the crowd.

However, if you do become a victim of crime, call the police immediately! In a potential confrontation, do not expose yourself, especially if the perpetrator is physically stronger than you, is armed or if there are more of them - it is your personal safety that matters!

If you become the victim of a crime, it may help police to track the perpetrator down if you try to remember or write down in particular the following details:

• Description of perpetrators or suspects (sex, age, height, clothes, facial features, way of walking, etc.);
• Registration number, colour, make and type of the vehicle;
• Direction of escape.

While waiting for the police to come to the crime scene, do not move or tidy away anything in order not to destroy evidence traces that may help the police to trace the perpetrator.