Police say residents can prevent many thefts from their vehicles with these common-sense guidelines.
Mt. Laurel Police know that its easy for residents to just leave stuff in their vehicles when they make a quick stop somewhere.
But as police are reminding residents, it’s just as easy for thieves to take advantage of the situation and steal any valuables left behind.
Police note that recently they’ve seen an increase of thefts from vehicles parked at daycare centers in the region, with purses and wallets have been stolen.
Police say the thieves have used the stolen credit cards or personal information at stores or banks to commit fraud.
With that in mind, police say residents can prevent many thefts from their cars with these common-sense guidelines:
• Lock doors and close windows — even for quick stops. Many thefts are simple “crimes of opportunity”, such as an unlocked door.
• Don’t leave cell phones, sunglasses, bags or other personal property sitting on the seat or floor of a vehicle. If spotted by a thief, a smash and grab can occur in less than 15 seconds.
• Police say covering items with a blanket or jacket isn’t a great idea because it might make a thief think someone is hiding something expensive.
• Make use of closed compartments in a vehicle, such as the trunk and glove box. In SUVs and hatchbacks, there may be hidden compartments in the floor in the back, or covers one can attach to the cargo area so thieves can’t see whats being stored
• Report all suspicious activity to the police-preferably while it is happening.
Finally, as police note, residents best bet is to just take their valuables with them.
