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Here's how you can keep Grinch thugs from ruining the holidays

Crime Stoppers reminds you that anonymous information on any crime is gratefully accepted 24/7 during the holidays, and year-round. The program also has a list of tips to keep criminal Grinches from ruining your holidays.
Staff Reporter
grinch vehicle breakin crime auto theft
CRIMESTOPPERS PHOTO

Crime Stoppers reminds you that anonymous information on any crime is gratefully accepted 24/7 during the holidays, and year-round.

The program also has a list of tips to keep criminal Grinches from ruining your holidays.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING

  1. Don’t make your car a “crook’s candy store”. Before you lock up, leave nothing visible inside your car. Not even pocket change or empty bottles and cans. Thieves can be tempted by almost anything from coins to the large bags and packages we store in the car while holiday shopping.
  2. Don’t “park in the dark”.Burglaries and vehicle break-ins spike this time of the year. It’s darker out, so your car is vulnerable as it sits unattended for hours at a stretch. Find a busy, well-lit section of the parking lot.
  3. Lock your gifts in the trunk. We keep hearing this one – yet people still leave presents in their cars in plain view. Lock them in the trunk. Avoid repeated trips to and from the car to drop off shopping bags and head back inside for more.
  4. Lock your car when you park it. Enough said. You’d be surprised how many people don’t.
  5. Guard your garage door openers. A thief breaks into your car, grabs your garage door opener, and finds your address on the insurance papers in your glove compartment. Now they don’t need to rush. They can open your garage anytime they feel like it. Leave the remote at home when shopping, or tuck it in your pocket after parking.
  6. Don’t “act” like a victim.Walk back to your car with confidence. Have your keys in your hand to get inside as quickly as possible. Look around the car once and check the back seat.

“HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS”

  1. Don’t leave online orders sitting on your porch. If you’re not home for the delivery, ask a neighbour to watch for anything left on your porch.
  2. Use home video cameras. Lots ofvideo units now feed the images to your smartphone. You might even spot a crook stealing from your Christmas lawn display. Use motion sensors to activate lights and arm your burglar alarm in case someone’s snooping around your home.
  3. Close the blinds.Make sure gifts inside the house aren’t visible from the outside. Peering through the window and seeing piles of gifts sitting beneath a Christmas tree is irresistible to burglars.
  4. Don’t leave stacks of cardboard lying outside your house. Recycling is good, but displayingthe boxes advertises what presents you received and are inside your home. 
  5. Etch it - mark your property. Ask your local police to help etch your property with your driver’s license number. Photograph valuables and show the make, model and serial number. If something’s stolen and later found by police, there’s a better chance that you’ll get it back.