By Emma Kakololo WINDHOEK THE festive season has arrived and the Namibian Police are reminding Namibians to stay vigilant against crime through the dissemination of crime prevention tips. This year’s festive season campaign also sets in motion a range of crime prevention activities and events to usher in a new year of crime prevention preparedness. In the capital Windhoek, Nampol and the City Police have joined forces and would be stepping up patrols and working closely with the Windhoek community to prevent crime. “Some of these crimes can be prevented. How? By all of us being more alert, making the effort to safeguard our own belongings, and by extension, keeping an eye out for each other. By doing this, we can reduce the number of theft cases and, at the same time, make it more difficult for criminals to operate,” stated Marx Hipandwa, spokesperson of the City Police. When shopping for Christmas, buyers are advised not to park their vehicles and leave them unattended with property on display, in particular bags containing Christmas shoppings. While city car break-in figures having fallen during the past year, the temptation of bags of new items lying around in an unattended vehicle is too much of an invitation for some city thieves and they will take the opportunity to break one of your car windows and remove anything left in the vehicle, even an old jacket or bag. In case there is anything of value inside it, do place the items within the boot. “We will continue distributing those crime prevention tips for holidays and the festive season,” stated Nampol spokesperson, Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu. The police also advise home owners when going away from home to ask trusted neighbours, a relative or close friend to make a daily check on their residences or have a trusted able bodied person to occupy the premises for the duration. “Also inform local police at the charge office that you would be away by giving the address of your residence,” reads one of the many safety tips by Nampol. People using ATMs are urged to be alert at all times as this is the time of the year thieves find their ways to ATMs. “To avoid becoming a victim, at an ATM never key in a pin before prompted to do so by the ATM especially if your card appears to be stuck. Stand alone at the machine when keying in the pin so that other people cannot see your number. Use hand and body as shield when typing in your pin,” it’s advised. Research has proven that the majority of housebreakers/thieves would avoid breaking into a property with an alarm. Homestar Security Services has introduced special prices for the festive season, charging only N$1 800 including a free radio transmitter for its alarm system during the festive season. Homestar also invites homeowners who already have an alarm system and who want to activate them to get connected to its 24-hour control for only a N$250 connection fee. The price also includes a free radio transmitter and a free check-up of the existing system.