Christmas is the time of year you are expected to spend with your loved ones and exchange gifts, but criminals see the season as prime time for thefts.

There are public service announcement fliers going around campus from Public Safety about ways to help prevent criminal activity for the season. Theft rates rise as Christmas approaches, not just at UTM but nationwide.

The first target of thieves on campus: college textbooks. Books are easy to steal and even easier to collect money for, says Rick Hatler, director of Public Safety. Other belongings, such as CD or MP3 players, purses and bookbags are also prime targets.

“Students should be careful placing their textbooks in places because that is a quick and easy way to get your possessions stolen,” said Hatler.

“We just want to make sure that all the students and faculty secure their valuables,” said Hatler.

Public Safety says it just takes a matter of seconds for a theft to take place, but you do not have to become another statistic of these crimes.

There are ways to prevent these types of situations. If you have bookbags, purses, keys, computers, and other valuable items you should not leave them unattended. Keep these personal items in you eye sight at all times.

Make sure that you keep up with your purse and wallets. Identity theft can cause more damage to your credit report than the value of your bank accounts.

If you do lose your wallet, notify your bank or credit card company immediately. File a report with Public Safety or local law enforcement to protect yourself from identity theft.