Deputies at sheriff’s stations throughout the county continuously see increases and decreases in these burglaries. On Thursday in Santa Clarita alone, the trend was up again with five similar window smash vehicle burglaries. The owners of the parked cars were visiting a local gym, and left their purses or other valuables unattended in their car, many in plain view.
What To Do About It
Wherever you live, wherever you go, take extra precautions and avoid being an easy target of this type of crime. Although property related crimes are down compared to last year, if your property gets stolen, we know that the crime statistic is 100% to you.
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The primary targets of thieves are valuable items that can be seen in the interior compartment of the car. Ensure valuables such as purses, wallets, iPhones, GPS systems, and computers, are not left inside unattended vehicles. Even things that look valuable but aren’t, can get your car broken into. Your department store shopping bag may only contain dirty laundry, but if it looks valuable, thieves will break in and the damage is done.
The trunk is not a perfect choice, but will help serve as a deterrent. Don’t be obvious about it though, and if thieves are watching, they will know.
Take precautions to secure your items prior to arriving at your destination or by taking them with you after you park. Make sure your vehicles are locked and parked in a well-lit area if it is going to be dark when you leave or return to your vehicle. Be cognizant of suspicious people sitting parked in their vehicles or driving around the parking lots with no apparent purpose. Example, traversing several parking lot rows while passing available parking spaces. Immediately report all suspicious activities to your local sheriff’s station or 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Help us stop this crime of opportunity. Do not allow yourselves to be victimized. Help us to help you–
Recent incidents of theft seem to share several common factors:
- Usually occur in parking lots of local gyms during morning or evening peak workout hours.
- They are occurring when residents leave electronic items, purses, wallets or other items of value in plain view inside their parked car.
Many of the vehicles in these recent incidents occurred after the window was smashed when the criminal opportunist apparently looked inside and saw valuable items or watched the victim park their car and leave the valuables.
Help us help you by taking a few simple precautions:
- Call your local sheriff’s station at the first sign of anyone casing vehicles, looking into vehicles or loitering between or around them.
- Call 9-1-1 if you see anyone tampering with automobiles.
- Lock your car doors.
- Remove garage door openers and all items of value, such as GPS devices, cell phones, computers, purses, charging cables, and I-Pods if the vehicle will be left in a parking lot, driveway or on the roadway.
- At the very least, the items should be placed out of view prior to your trip to your destination or, preferably, locked in the trunk prior to arrival if possible.
- Do not carry your Social Security card in your purse or wallet. Memorize your number.
Your sheriff’s deputies are urging all residents to follow these simple preventative measures at any hour of the day or night, even if your car is going to be parked in a public area that seems to be well populated and safe.
Working together we can make the difference.
Special thanks to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Crime Prevention Unit.
Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org