Preventing vehicle burglaries

Last November the Carrollton Police Department published guidelines to help us avoid vehicle burglaries.  With the recent car break-in on Earlshire and several incidents at 24 Hour Fitness, it seems worthwhile to remind ourselves of the following:

The Carrollton Police Department is asking for your help to reduce vehicle burglaries in the community.  In order to reduce your likelihood of becoming target for criminals, the Carrollton Police Department is providing the following information and encouraging you to be a harder target.

 

Since January of 2007 Carrollton Police Officers have responded to approximately 1,075 vehicle related burglaries and thefts

Some facts regarding these thefts:

• 23% occurred during daylight hours
  
• Unlocked vehicle doors were attributed to 30% of the vehicle burglaries
  
• The most common method of entry is to break out a window.
  
• Based on current trends, police investigators have noted that many identity theft cases start with a vehicle burglary.  Personal items taken from a vehicle burglary are often later used by suspects to commit identity theft crimes.  

The Carrollton Police Department is asking every citizen to help reduce these crimes by making themselves and their property a Harder Target.  Below are some suggestions on making yourself and your property a harder target:

1. Always lock your vehicle.  Roll the windows all the way up and check your door handles before walking away.
   
2. Always set your alarm system if your vehicle is equipped.
   
3. Always remove all valuables, or anything that looks of value from your vehicle.  Remember, a gym bag full of dirty clothes could look like a bag with a computer in it to a thief.  
   
4. Do not hide your purse or wallet in the vehicle.  Your personal information will be found by the burglar; this is not the thief’s first time to be in a vehicle.  If you thought about a good hiding spot most likely the thief has as well.  
   
5. If you can’t take your items with you, place those in the trunk before you get to your final destination.  Burglars often sit in parking lots to see what victims are doing before and after they get out of the car.  They are watching to see where potential victims are hiding valuables or what they are placing inside their trunk.
   
6. Please report any and all suspicious activity and persons to the Carrollton Police Department.
   
7. The best way to prevent the burglary of your vehicle is to secure it inside your garage.

Do not give the thief any temptations.  Remove your bags, purses, radar detectors, GPS devices and stereo face plates.  Make yourself and your vehicle a harder target.  Only with the citizens working with the police department can we help prevent crime in our community.