MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mid-South holiday shoppers may notice more Shelby County Sheriff's Office deputies patrolling areas this holiday season.
On Friday, the sheriff's office kicked off Operation: Jingle Bells, which has been a program going strong for 30 years, taking place this year from November 29 through to December 28.
Captain Nikki Masters with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office said she suggests that shoppers keep purchases stowed away from plain sight in your car.
She also said if shoppers see suspicious activity to report it immediately.
"We want them to be able to be out and be safe, we want businesses to know that the shoppers coming into their area, coming into their businesses don't have to worry about things that going on outside," Masters said.
Captain Masters said this year, the sheriff's office is bringing an additional resource to their security detail in the form of a drone program which will give deputies a different view to combat potential crime.
"Officers are going to be monitoring the feed from this drone, and what that will give them the availability to do is if they see something we can go ahead and dispatch a car to the area to address that suspicious activity," she said.
The larger police presence has decreased crime, according to Masters. In 2022, the Shelby County Sheriff's office reported 1,443 vehicle stops, 589 tickets, seven felony arrests, 88 warrant arrests, and 13 misdemeanor arrests. In 2023, those numbers dropped down to 1,078 vehicle stops, 230 tickets, seven felony arrests, one warrant arrest, and two misdemeanor arrests.
Teresa Crespo and her brother, Emilinao, who were shopping at Wolfchase Galleria said they know people personally who have had their items stolen out of their car around the holiday season.
Teresa said she experienced an incident where she wished authorities were around to prevent her car from being damaged.
"Recently I was shopping at TJ Maxx and got my tires slashed. Nothing was ever done about it, but at least if there's police patrolling they'll at least prevent the action before it happens," she said.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office will be patrolling several areas where there is a high concentration of shopping taking place throughout the county.
Emilinao Crespo said he's impressed with the heightened police presence when approaching the mall.
"It's about that time they need to have stuff out here like that, especially on a holiday like this people act crazy, you need that around when people act like that," Emilinao said.