BY BECKY KISER

Hays Post

This weekend is the final rush for many people to finish their Christmas gift shopping.

It’s also an opportune time for thieves to take advantage of distracted shoppers in stores and parking lots, resulting in a not so merry Christmas.

Hays Police Department Investigator Jeff Ridgway has some safety tips to remember:

Once you get all those gift packages home, Ridgway recommends keeping them out of view from house windows to lessen the temptation of thieves.  As always, “keep your windows and doors locked and the garage door down for safety year-round,” reminds Ridgway.