Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and soon millions of Americans will be jumping in planes, trains and automobiles to get back home and spend time with loved ones around the dinner table. Thanksgiving is usually a fun time spent with family, but the extended weekend means there’s plenty of time for crime to occur. In fact, certain crimes spike during this 4-day weekend stretch. Today, we take a look at five common crimes that spike during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Common Thanksgiving Crimes
We always seem to get an uptick in calls over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Here’s five of the most common crimes that we get calls about this time of year.
1. DUI – DUIs always spike this time of year, and the night before Thanksgiving is often one of the most dangerous days on the roads. Friends and family are in town for the holiday celebration the next day, and many ring in the holiday with some spirits. If they decide to drive home afterwards, they can get a DUI. Cops know this, and they are always out in full force from Wednesday until Sunday looking for drunk drivers. Make good decisions this weekend, or you may need to give us a call at (952) 224-2277.
2. Disorderly Conduct – Similarly, disorderly conduct arrests also spike during this time, again because there’s generally a lot of alcohol involved over the long weekend, and alcohol can lead to poor decisions. Sucker punching that old high school bully at the bar this weekend is only going to lead to trouble, so avoid fighting at all costs.
3. Speeding – Hundreds of thousands of speeding tickets are issued each day in the United States, but we also see a spike in tickets over the Thanksgiving holiday. More people are on the road during this time, which means more speeders are caught by cops. Do yourself a favor and leave for your destination 5-10 minutes earlier than normal so that you don’t need to punch the gas in order to get home in time.
4. Vandalism – Again, this can usually be attributed to young people being together in groups and the potential addition of alcohol. Vandalism crimes aren’t all that common in the first place, but there tends to be a little increase this time of year. Don’t damage other people’s property and you’ll have no problem avoiding a vandalism charge this season.
5. Theft – Black Friday brings plenty of great deals, but too many people try to get away with a real steal during a time when stores are often flooded with customers. Loss prevention officers know that this is a busy time of year for shoplifters, and the increase in technology means your theft is probably recorded on camera, so don’t be surprised if you’re caught. Don’t steal this season, but if you or a friend get charged with shoplifting, give us a call at (952) 224-2277.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
