AUBURN – Although retailers are reporting a decline in holiday shopping traffic, Auburn police attribute an increase in accident reports to more traffic from the holiday season.

Lt. Gary Boulet said police have responded to 82 accidents in the past three weeks, including five on Mt. Auburn Avenue and 14 on Center Street, two of Auburn’s key streets in the shopping district.

More accidents occur during the first inclement weather of the season, “but there hasn’t been any foul weather,” Boulet said. An increase of traffic volume due to holiday shopping is a factor, he said.

Last year, there were approximately 75 accidents in one day in Lewiston and Auburn during the first snowfall of the season.

Accidents under $500 are listed as nonreportable and aren’t included in those numbers, Boulet said. Many of the hit-and-run accidents that occur in shopping parking lots fall in that category.

“We get a lot of hit-and-runs at this time of year,” Boulet said.

If people witness an accident, they should try to get the license-plate number, color and make of the vehicle, and leave a note on the windshield.

“Better yet, they should call police,” Boulet said.