’Tis the season for sweet treats, holiday shopping and crime.
With Christmas right around the corner, the New Westminster Police Department is raising awareness about one of the most common crimes of the season – thefts from vehicles.
“People are thinking about preparing meals and buying gifts. It’s a busy time of year, and protecting yourself against theft is often the farthest thing from your mind until it’s too late,” Acting Sgt. Jeff Scott said in a media release.
Scott said most people don’t realize thefts from cars and trucks is a crime of opportunity. It takes someone about two or three seconds to open a car and grab what’s inside, he added, and that’s why police are trying to make people more aware.
Police are urging shoppers and residents alike to remove any valuables from their vehicles and even from inside the trunk.
“Thieves know shoppers are putting gifts there, so don’t risk it,” Shelley Cole, crime prevention coordinator for the New Westminster police, said in the release. “Keep your gifts with you. It’s more than the loss of gifts. Think of the cost and time to deal with a broken lock or window, and the money you could have had during the holidays.”
