"LOCK IT UP"               

In this series on HARDENING YOUR TARGET, I have discussed simple, easy to use crime prevention strategies you can use to reduce your chances of being a crime victim. One crime that has affected several Monroe County towns including Webster, is that of thefts from motor vehicles. Suspects are targeting residential neighborhoods and large commercial parking lots, seeking to steal items from parked cars.

The suspects will enter the area and go car to car, driveway to driveway, looking for unlocked cars. When they find an unlocked car, they rummage through the inside and steal anything of value. We have seen items ranging from change to cell phones to thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment stolen from unlocked cars. The good news is that the suspects will leave the locked cars alone, knowing that there are so many unlocked cars to steal from. As you can see, the way to prevent yourself from being a victim of this type of crime is to simply LOCK YOUR CAR. Even when your car is parked in your driveway you need to lock the doors. You also need to remove any items that are of great value and secure them in your home. ( Such as cell phones, expensive stereo equipment, business items such as briefcases, purses, wallets, etc. ) Other items of lesser value that you choose to leave in your car should be somehow concealed from plain view. It is also a good practice to have your driveway illuminated with some source of security lighting to deter anyone from entering your property in the first place.

It seems so simple, yet so many people fail to lock the doors on their cars. Unfortunately the bad guys know this and take advantage of this opportunity. So remember, HARDEN YOUR TARGET, by locking the doors on your vehicle. Please remember to immediately report any suspicious activity to the Webster Police Department by calling 911.

For more information call the Webster Police Community Services Unit at 872-1216 ext. 233

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