Columbia, SC (WLTX) The State Fair can be a great time, but Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott offers these safety tips when visiting the South Carolina State Fair.
The fair opens October 14, 2015 and runs through October 25th the Sheriff's Department recommends leaving home early and planning the route to the fairgrounds beforehand.
Parking is available inside and outside the grounds, also use caution and be aware of your surroundings, and watch for who may be watching you. Deputies recommend making sure all valuables are out of sight and that your car is locked – Sheriff Leon Lott recommends that you stay in a group if parking outside the official fairgrounds lot.
Sheriff's Deputies will be patrolling inside the fairgrounds along with other law enforcement agencies working security.
A command post will be set up at the Heath building near the rocket for first aid and lost children, another post is set up at the backside of grandstand next to the stands for seating -- Richland County Sheriff's Deputies ask that parents should point out the command posts to their children and tell the children to go there or find a uniformed officer if they become lost.
Deputies are cautioning that anyone causing problems at the fair will be asked leave and may be subject to other enforcement action.
Additional State Fair Safety Tips:
- · Try and go to the fair in groups, this should help to prevent and potential predators waiting to commit a crime.
- · Take small purses or bags inside with you and try to avoid using large purses and pocketbooks – unfortunately they're good targets for purse snatchers and can fall off amusement rides.
- · Do not flash you cash – this will only attracted unwanted attention and make you a target for robbery or pickpockets.
- · Parents please check in with your young adults or have them check in with you periodically (cell phones can come in handy for this process) – just make sure if they are calling you that they set an alarm on their phone as a reminder.
