Hot Springs Village Coffee with a Cop – Holiday Safety Chat

Holiday Safety was the focal point of the Coffee with a Cop Meeting held on December 11, 2025, at the Coronado Community Center. Hosted by the Hot Springs Village Police Department and the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA), Retired Chicago Police Officer Andrew Jones, Junior promptly kicked off the meeting at 10:00 a.m. by leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

Low Crime Rate

Chief Bennett highlighted that we enjoy the privilege of a low crime rate in the Village. She said, “Why don’t we have a high crime rate? Because we don’t allow it here.” According to her, big cities often can’t offer one-on-one service and programs like Coffee with a Cop because their police departments are too occupied with fighting crime.

She emphasized that while the gates serve as a deterrent to crime, they do not entirely keep all wrongdoers out. Most of the crimes we experience, particularly domestic issues, come from within our community. With a population of 18,000, it’s unrealistic to expect perfect behavior from everyone all the time.

January Coffee with a Cop – Gates Discussion

Police Chief Kristi Bennett introduced Tom Benfield, Community Support Manager, who will share some information on a highly discussed topic – the gates – at the January Coffee with a Cop. Mr. Benfield will instruct us on how to use the app, the best way to notify the gate staff if you have visitors or guests, and how we can work together to make the gates more efficient and more easily accessible for our residents.

Safety at Home and More

Space Heaters

The Chief cautioned against using old space heaters with cords patched with electrical tape, as they are prone to overheating and can pose a fire risk. She emphasized, “Any space heater can be dangerous. Ensure the area around the heater is clear and not too close to anything flammable – which could be anything.”

Fall Risk

There is always a risk of experiencing a fall, but the risk escalates around holiday time. Chief Bennett shared a story about one of her dear friends who fell and broke her wrist while standing on a bench to hang up Christmas decorations. She emphasized that accidents can happen to anyone, stating, “It happens to the best of us.”

Welfare Checks

Chief Bennett pointed out that it can sometimes be difficult to tell who is home. During the holiday season, HSV Police officers conduct numerous welfare checks. She stated, “The officers are constantly going on welfare checks because someone’s neighbor hasn’t been seen for days or their family hasn’t heard from them in a while.”

Chief Bennett encouraged everyone to be good neighbors. She emphasized the need for community involvement, saying, “Take care of your neighbors. Check on your neighbors. If something suspicious is happening or you haven’t seen your neighbor in a while, give us a call and let us do a welfare check or go over and knock on the door to see if you can hear or see anything.” She acknowledged that people may be reluctant to appear nosy but stressed the importance of looking out for one another. “We see it so often, especially during the holiday season. We think, ‘Oh, they are out of town.’ The reality could be that someone has fallen and can’t get up, and they need help.”

Jones recounted an incident where someone asked him to check on their mother. He knew the garage door code and, upon entering the house, found the neighbor leaning over in a chair. She had been there for almost two days. “What I heard after that alarmed me. Her close friends kept calling her and got no answer, which was out of the norm.”

Benfield mentioned that one of his Community Support officers noticed someone’s heat and air conditioning unit was iced over. The department knew that an elderly person lived alone there. He asked the police department to do a welfare check. Fortunately, the gentleman was okay but was unaware of the status of his heating and air conditioning unit.

Chief Bennett explained that it is not unusual for someone to fall or become incapacitated and lay in their house for a few days without help. Sometimes, someone walking their dog happens to walk by and hears screaming. Officers save lives all the time. “We are proud of Community Support and the Police Department with the amount of care they have for Villagers.”

Theft

“We all know someone who has been a victim of holiday thefts or scams of some nature,” Chief Bennett remarked, referencing last month’s discussion on caregiver scams. Click here to read the report on the November Coffee with a Cop.

The Village is at high risk of being targeted by scammers because Villagers are so kind-hearted. “We are a nice community,” she said. Despite the noise online, most Villagers are genuinely good people with hearts in the right place. “They always want to help and get involved. No place in the country has 180 clubs in a 504-mile road area.”

The police department deals with caregiver crimes daily, and the problem is not diminishing. Chief Bennett advised ensuring that home caregivers are certified and vetted through reputable companies that perform background and drug tests.

Some folks hire independent caregivers because of the higher cost of going through a service. When doing this, extra care should be taken and it is recommended to store checkbooks and other valuables in a safe. Additionally, it is advised to keep a record of serial numbers for electronics and equipment, photograph valuables, and store this information on a flash drive hidden in a secure location.

It was noted that without a serial number, it is almost impossible to locate stolen items. It was suggested to engrave your initials on equipment or mark items with fingernail polish to aid in identification in case of theft.

Using Lights as a Crime Deterrent

Keep your house well-lit on the outside. “That doesn’t mean you shine spotlights on your neighbor’s house. Lights are an incredible tool. Your home doesn’t have to be lit like a Christmas tree or runway, but it is nice to have a porch light on for any of your main doors.”

If someone is checking on your house when you are away, ask them to alternate the lights in your home.

Holiday Shopping

Ladies, especially, should make eye contact when doing holiday shopping. Doing this lets people know you are confident and are aware of your surroundings.

Bring less with you into the store. “Try not to carry the big, heavy purses. Before leaving home, put your purse in your trunk and wear a wristlet.

If someone appears to be following you, look them in the eye. If they continue, go to the front of the store and report them. If you need an escort to your vehicle, ask the store to provide one.

The shopping advice does not only pertain to women but can be for men who are recovering from surgery or may use a cane.

Safely Using a Credit Card at the Store

When using a credit card in the store, it is preferable to use the tap option instead of scanning your card into the card reader. Contactless cards work a lot like mobile wallets. The transaction is completed by holding or tapping the card on a contactless-enabled card reader. The technology is known as “tap to pay” or “tap and go.” It’s up to 10 times faster than swiping, inserting, or using cash.

Tapping is safer for most cards because it uses a different digital number. When you look at your receipt, you will notice the last four numbers of the physical card are different on the receipt. When using the tap, a one-time use only temporary pin number is created. If a skimmer is on the card reader, your information is not obtainable when using the tap option.

Gift Cards

Be cautious when purchasing gift cards. Unfortunately, while gift cards offer a convenient and flexible option, they are targeted by scammers. Scammers tamper with gift cards by using handheld scanners to capture card information. The card’s balance is then monitored by calling the customer service line. Once the card is activated, the scammer either creates a counterfeit card used to shop online or transfers the card balance to their account.

According to the Better Business Bureau, to protect against this scam:

“1. Inspect the Barcode and Packaging: Before purchasing, run your finger over the barcode to ensure no sticker is covering it. Choose cards in sealed packaging rather than loose cards on display. Look for signs of tampering, such as tears, open bar codes, or wrinkles in the packaging. If something appears suspicious, report it to the store’s customer service.

“2. Consider Buying Online from Trusted Sources: Purchasing directly from a retailer’s official website can reduce the risk of tampering. Avoid steeply discounted gift cards on unfamiliar websites or social media ads, as they may be scams.”

When purchasing a gift card, open the envelope before the store sales associate and check the card. The scammers steal the cards, take them home, cut off the scanning portion of the card, and bring it back to the gift card display. Make sure the entire card is in the envelope, or a scammer may end up with the money you intended as a gift for someone.

Check Washing

If you are still mailing checks through the postal service, use an official blue mailbox to mail your check. When you put your mail out for the carrier to pick up, it can be vulnerable to theft. Scammers steal checks and “wash” them. “Check washing” is a type of fraud that involves using chemicals to erase details from a check so it can be rewritten and cashed by the scammer.

Package Delivery

In the world we live in now, it is often easier to shop online. “Make sure you are aware of the packages you have coming. There are services with the delivery companies that will help keep track of your deliveries. If you are not going to be home, make arrangements for the delivery on a different day, if possible, or arrange for a neighbor to pick up your package.”

It is recommended to install a Ring Camera so you can see who is at your door when you are away. A Ring Camera is an inexpensive type of smart home security camera. It’s designed to provide homeowners real-time video footage of their property and alert them to potential security threats. Many crimes are solved off of ring camera footage.

Register your Ring Camera on the Police website. Click here for more information to register your Ring Camera in Hot Springs Village. A Ring Camera can help solve crimes, not only against you, but may be helpful to the police department in solving a crime against a neighbor.

When there was a rash of storage unit thefts in the Village, the perpetrator was identified by footage from a Ring Camera of a neighbor down the street. The vehicle was then discovered on a gate camera, where the license plate was easily identifiable. Kudos to our Hot Springs Village Police team!

Criminals have been known to rummage through trash to see what you have recently purchased. To prevent this, discard your package cardboard at the Minorca Recycling Facility, 218 Minorca Road, open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:00 p.m. If you cannot do that, cut the cardboard into small pieces and dispose of it in your trash receptacle. Click here to read the latest cardboard recycling article in the Gazette.

Cooking and Candles

The holiday season can be a time for increased fires in the home. Be careful when cooking, baking, or using a turkey fryer. It is easy to become distracted by the excitement of the holiday and walk away from your food preparation.

Ensure your candles are not still lit when you leave the house or are going to bed. It only takes a minute to perform a simple walkthrough looking for possible dangers before leaving home or going to bed.

Decoration Hazards

• Be careful when climbing a ladder or stool when decorating.

• Be aware of how close your tree is to your curtains. The lights are hotter than we think.

• Make sure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water every day.

• Look for exposed wires on your lights.

• Be watchful of pets as they like to chew on wires, or cats may jump on trees and overturn them.

• Keep outside lights clear of leaves and other debris, which could be a fire hazard. LED lights use less energy, don’t burn as hot, and have a longer life.

Spread the Word!

Let friends and neighbors know about Coffee with a Cop, happening every second Wednesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at the Police Training Facility at the Coronado Community Center, 150 Ponderosa Lane, Hot Springs Village. January’s topic is a hot one – Gates and Gate Security in the Village. Come out, enjoy the company, drink coffee, partake of a donut, and become informed! Let’s fill the room!

Click here to visit the Hot Springs Village Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA),

By Cheryl Dowden; Photography by Joe Dowden