’TIS THE SEASON TO PREVENT AUTO BREAK-INS

There are steps you can take to prevent bad guys from doing their dirty work

Over the next several weeks, many of us will be consumed by the prospect of holiday shopping — and the organized ones already are getting ahead of the rush. Remember that this is also the time of season when would-be thieves are looking for any opportunity to make their own holiday season just a little richer at your expense, so don’t give them the opportunity.

According to police data, 56,600 vehicles were broken into in 2017 — many of those during the holiday season — because car or truck owners allowed their vehicle to be an appealing target.

Theft of items from vehicles is a preventable crime and there are some steps you can take to help prevent thieves from breaking into your vehicle. The most obvious is to avoid leaving anything visible in your car.

Some of the most common items to be stolen out of vehicles — aside from Christmas gifts during the holiday season — are smartphones and other electronics such as laptops and tablets, but thieves also will break in if they can see spare change, umbrellas or other relatively inexpensive items.

At this time of year, police also report more auto thefts because people leave their vehicles unlocked and running during winter months. So don’t leave your car unattended while it’s warming up, and never leave your spare car key hidden in your vehicle. Also, be aware that crooks sometimes will steal garage door remote controls and your address from your vehicle registration paperwork. In order to protect yourself, never place your remote in plain sight. In situations where you may be forced to park your vehicle in a less-than-ideal location, take the remote with you; make a copy of your vehicle registration and black out your home address in a copy you keep in your glove compartment. Keep the original with your address in a safe place at home.

Take some of these rules to heart to deter vehicle break-ins and theft, and the associated

hassle that comes with having to visit a glass replacement or windshield replacement shop while lamenting your lost possessions.

Don’t give a Grinch the satisfaction that comes with presenting an easy target. Enjoy the onset of the holiday season and don’t become a victim.

Holiday shopping sometimes means repeated trips to drop off purchases in a vehicle before heading back into the mall for another round. The ICBC advises drivers to move their vehicles after placing gifts in the trunk.