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There have been a large number of
vehicle break-ins in town recently, and
the Wake Forest Police Department is
urging vehicle owners to take some
commonsense steps to avoid becoming a
victim.
“There have been twenty-six
[break-ins] in two months, mainly in the
northeast part of town,” Lt. Trent
Coleman said this week. That was 26
break-ins from May 25 to July 25. In
most cases, the vehicles were unlocked.
“We’ve only had one or two where there
was damage to the vehicle” for the thief
or thieves to break in, Coleman said.
The first step to avoid
becoming a break-in victim is to lock
your vehicle when you park it, whether
at home, at work, or anywhere.
Police officials say it is
amateurs who take advantage of careless
drivers who leave vehicles unlocked and
valuables in sight.
The following tips can keep
you from becoming a victim:
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Park in open, well-lighted, and
populated areas near your
destination. Avoid parking near
trucks, vans, dumpsters, and other
objects that obstruct visibility and
provide hiding places.
-
Avoid parking near strangers
loitering or sitting in vehicles.
-
Park in lots or garages where you
don’t have to leave your keys.
-
Park in your garage, if you have
one. Don’t leave your vehicle on the
street, in an alley, or on your
driveway. If you have to park on a
street, avoid dark or isolated
areas.
-
Turn off your engine, roll up all
windows, lock all doors, and take
your keys with you even if you are
making a quick stop at a store or
gas station, or even in your
driveway. Close all windows and lock
the trunk and hood.
-
Don’t leave spare keys in your
vehicle. An experienced thief knows
all the hiding places. Store spare
keys in your wallet.
-
Don't leave cell phones, wallets,
purses, or anything of value
in vehicles. If you prefer not to
take such items with you, lock them
in the trunk.
-
Don’t leave your vehicle in an
unattended public lot for an
extended period time.
-
Install an alarm system that will
sound when someone attempts to break
in, move, tilt, or start your
vehicle. Always activate the system
when leaving the vehicle.
-
Check your vehicle if you hear the
alarm sound. But don’t try to stop a
person attempting to break in. Get a
good description of the person and
call the police.
When you shop for a new
vehicle, consider one that has some or
all of the following features:
-
An interior hood and trunk lock
release. Install a secondary hood
lock if your car does not have one.
-
A factory-installed immobilizer, a
computer chip in the key.
-
A locking steering wheel.
Other anti-theft devices such as an
alarm or a GPS tracking system. |
