Entering Auto Tips brought to you by the LaGrange Police Department
Date: March 16, 2011
When parking your car in the warm weather of summer, don’t be tempted to leave the car windows down; if the windows are down, the door locks don’t do anything. The LaGrange Police Department has received forty reports of the theft of valuable items from the inside of cars since January 1, 2011. These incidents take place on the street, in the parking lots of businesses, shopping malls, schools, parks, apartment building, and private driveways. Several years ago the most commonly reported stolen items were car radios and radar detectors. A recent review of police reports indicates that thieves are now targeting; purses, portable navigation devices, along with MP3 players and subscription radio receivers.
There are several things you can do to make your car a less attractive target. The simplest is don’t leave valuables in your car. This may be unrealistic due to the inconvenience of taking these items in and out of your car each time you use it. If leaving these items in your car at least put them out of sight, such as under a seat or in the glove box. Many of the people that steal items from inside cars have told police they would first look in the car and move on if nothing of value was visible. When parking your car, roll up the windows and lock the doors. This is the most obvious theft deterrent but also the most overlooked. Numerous police reports indicate the items were stolen from automobiles that were unlocked.
If you have to park it on a public street or parking lot, try to park it in a well lit space, thieves prefer to work in poorly lit areas that provide them with some cover. If you’re wondering if you should lock your car in your own driveway, the answer is a resounding yes. A thief can be in and out of your car in thirty seconds, barely enough time to be noticed during the day, let alone in the middle of the night.
You may assist the LaGrange Police by maintaining a list of the valuable contents in your car including their serial numbers, or owner applied numbers. In this day and age of digital photography, keeping a photographic record is an inexpensive and not overly time consuming method of aiding the department’s investigation.
Remember, place valuable items out of sight; roll up windows and lock the doors; park the car in a garage or well lit area; keep a record of valuable car contents, and PLEASE NEVER LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN YOUR PARKED CAR.
For additional information contact: Sgt. Marshall McCoy at (706) 883-2642.
