Full Notification

The holiday season is a time of celebration with friends and family. It can also be a time when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crimes. Please take the time to apply the following holiday crime prevention measures:

• Never leave your car unlocked, or the windows open. Leaving your car unlocked is an open invitation for a thief to help himself. Even leaving your window open a small amount can be enough for a thief to unlock and open your car. Thefts can occur even in the few moments you might be inside a building and your car is not in your view.

• Never use a Hide-a-Key box on your car. Thieves will look for these.

• Never leave home or office keys in your car. The keys, along with any identifying paperwork left in the car could lead a thief to your home or business.

• Never leave valuables in clear view. Do not leave purses, cellular phones, backpacks, laptop computers, gym bags, shopping bags, packages, etc. visible from the outside of your vehicle. A thief may not know what is in a bag, but will be willing to break a window or door lock to find out. If you must keep property in your vehicle, place it in the trunk so it is not visible to the opportunist. Place it there prior to arriving at your destination so you are not seen putting it away when you arrive.

• Walk through parking lots with confidence being aware of your surroundings as you secure your valuables in the trunk.

• Be mindful of your purse, cell phone or wallet Do not set them down or put them in a pocket where items can be easily removed.

• Avoid leaving your car in an under-used or unattended lot. A frequently used lot means more witnesses, so a theft is less likely to occur. If you are parking at night, or will be returning to your car after dark, park in a well-lit area. Stay away from areas that are concealed, obscured or remote.

• When at your home, park inside of a garage if possible. Lock your vehicle and close/lock your garage door. If parking in a garage is not an option, park in your driveway or on the street in front of your home. Leave outdoor lights on or use motion sensing lights.

• When leaving your home, be sure to secure all open windows and doors. Do not leave valuables in plain view so that potential thieves can see them from the street or a window.

• Practice vacation security if you are leaving out of town for the holiday. Utilize timers to turn on and off your interior lights, suspend your newspaper delivery service and talk with a trusted neighbor to care for your home.

The holiday season is a great time of year and can be very special. By following these tips we can reduce the thefts in our community and keep the cheer in the holiday season.

Remember, always report crime and suspicious activity to the police. Ontario Police Department (909) 986-6711