Georgetown Independent
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Lock it or lose it
Wednesday July 30 2008
 
The dog days of summer usually mark an increase in all kinds of activity: more cyclists are on the roads, joggers hit the pavement in larger numbers and sadly, thieves become more active.
Particularly when it comes to thefts from vehicles.
The Halton Regional Police Service reports all areas of the Region have been experiencing a significant number of incidents where culprits are gaining access to parked vehicles in order to steal property.
 In most cases the vehicles were unlocked, but in some cases windows were smashed to gain access, when the culprits could see that there was some valuable property inside. Most of the crimes have occurred during the overnight and early morning hours on residential streets.
 In other cases the culprits are entering cars during the daylight hours in public areas, such as parks, once the vehicle owner has walked out of sight from the car. In addition, many vehicles have been targeted by thieves in the parking lots of movie theatres, restaurants and hotels, when the culprits know the vehicles will be unattended for a significant period of time.
Cell phones, GPS devices, laptops, compact discs and of course, cash, have proven to be among the favourite items for thieves to grab.
While a locked vehicle is no guarantee against theft, an unlocked car only provides culprits with an easier  target. It takes less time for you to lock your vehicle than it does for a thief to swipe your valuables.
Police offer the following to help prevent this type of crime:
• Always lock your car when you leave it unattended.
• Never leave valuables in plain view within your car interior.
• If you must leave property in your car, lock it in the trunk.
• Report any suspicious activity immediately to Halton Regional Police, and if you feel a crime is in progress call 9-1-1.
The message is simple enough: Lock it or lose it.