The holiday season is a special time for many people with family gatherings, parties, and all the hustle and bustle that goes with this time of year. But the holidays also mean something less enjoyable – increased opportunity for theft. Crime rises during the holidays, particularly as people get in a rush and forget to take necessary precautions.
“We see a lot of vehicle break-ins this time of year,” said Police Chief Keith Dougherty. “People leave packages and electronics in plain sight, forget to lock their doors or close their windows, and all of that really makes it easy for thieves to do their holiday shopping in the parking lot.”
Dougherty added that although the Baytown Police will be increasing patrols through busy shopping centers, shoppers can help by following some simple guidelines themselves. Most “opportunity” crime could be eliminated through simply removing the opportunity.
- Always close car windows and lock all doors.
- Put packages out of sight or in the trunk as soon as you leave the store.
- Never leave anything of value in plain sight; this includes purses, wallets, CDs, GPS devices, laptops and cell phones. Take these items with you, leave them at home, or lock them in the trunk.
- Lock truck-bed tool boxes and never leave anything of value in the bed of a pickup truck.
- Try to park in well lit areas. Dark secluded parking places are attractive to thieves and put you at personal risk too.
For more information on Crime Prevention, contact the Baytown Police Department at 281-422-5152.