Three of every four vehicles burglarized are unlocked.
One of the biggest ways to prevent a thief from stealing valuables in your car — or stealing the car — is to lock car doors.
Three out of four cars that are burglarized are unlocked, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. HCSO has made two public service announcement videos on the topic.
Even if you’re going inside of your house or a shop for a few minutes, make sure to turn off and lock your car. You could get a ticket for leaving your car running.
According to the Plant City Police Department, more cars were stolen or burglarized in June 2016 than June 2015. But there’s good news: the trend of thefts of cars and burglaries from cars so far this year is downward compared to data through July 2015.
Plant City resident Lauren Reeves said she never used to worry if she left her car unlocked when she was at home — until her car was stolen in late June at the Plant City Family YMCA.
“I was very lucky,” Reeves said. Both she and her husband have had their vehicles burglarized in the past, as well. “At home I (didn’t) lose sleep over locking the car or not. That’s what I thought befo
re. But lately, since I got the car back, I’ve been more aware.”
Remembering to lock car doors is one of the simplest and quickest ways for residents to avoid becoming a victim, said Sgt. Al Van Duyne, the public information officer with the Plant City Police Department.
In gated communities especially, such as Walden Lake, residents may take their security for granted.
“A lot of people have that false sense of security,” Van Duyne said. “People need to secure their stuff. Don’t leave your garage door open all night, don’t leave the windows down.”
Van Duyne shared other tips to prevent thefts of cars.
Know Your Property
If your property is stolen, use information to your advantage. This can help law enforcement officers track down your stolen vehicle or possessions faster and more efficiently.
“Write down the serial numbers of all valuables,” Van Duyne said. “It makes it easier to track. They can also take a picture of all their information and plates with a smartphone and save the photos or back them up.”
The same measures taken with smaller property, such as electronic devices, also can apply to vehicles. Car owners should know the make and model of their car, as well as their license plate number.
“In general terms, many people don’t even know their license plate number,” Van Duyne said. “People just want to take a more vested interest in their property and safeguarding it.”
Put Valuables Out of Sight
There might be a lot of items you leave in your car without thinking about it: from athletic wear and power tools to phone chargers and navigational systems.
But criminals, Van Duyne said, are opportunists. If a criminal sees something of any value in a car, they become more likely to steal it.
Van Duyne recommends putting valuables where they can be hidden from plain view, especially anything that lights up. GPS devices that are left on through the night — or left still sticking to a windshield — can attract criminals looking to make a quick buck. Locking valuables inside the trunk of a car or bringing them inside for safekeeping are an easy way for people to protect their belongings.
When valuables are moved to their new location, Van Duyne said to do it away from home — and away from prying eyes.
“If somebody’s watching, they’ll know where your valuables are,” he said.
Go the Extra Mile
For those who are financially able, Van Duyne recommends people invest in an alarm system or motion detector for their home or driveway. A motion detector flood light that faces the driveway can deter thieves if they see the light come on. Additionally, an alarm system or video monitoring system will allow residents to keep a watchful eye over their home and their belongings, even when they’re away.
“They are readily available, and the prices have gone down some,” Van Duyne said. “They can have a view of the whole house, and that’s a deterrent for criminals.”
Be Aware
A small town mentality, Van Duyne said, can be advantageous for criminals.
“People tend to think, ‘little bitty Plant City,’” Van Duyne said. “But we can’t prevent everything. We don’t have a huge theft problem, but we do have some.”
A false sense of security is often what criminals rely on when they’re in search of their next target, with some criminals coming from out of town to commit crimes in Plant City.
“We definitely want people to be mindful that, in this day and time, there’s people that are desperate,” Van Duyne said. “It would benefit them and us for them to safeguard their property. Anything they can do to help us out is greatly appreciated.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
