Red Deer City RCMP are advising the public not to leave valuables in a visible location in their vehicles this holiday season.
“We see an increase in thefts from vehicles and damage to vehicles at this time of year and a lot of it is target specific,” said Red Deer City RCMP Cpl. Kathe DeHeer. “A lot of it is in shopping malls and store (parking lots) and stuff, especially where people have things that are visible (in their vehicles). And generally what people are breaking into vehicles for is to get something of value inside and generally that property is in plain sight.”
She said while there hasn’t been an increase in thefts or damage to vehicles this year as compared to other holiday seasons, there is always an increase in the amount of vandalism and theft from vehicles at Christmas as compared to other times of the year.
“So what you need to realize is that if you’re shopping you should not leave the shopping centre, put you bags in the car and then go back in. You don’t know who is watching. Even if you are storing it in your trunk that is not really any safer if somebody has seen you do it, although it’s better than leaving it in plain sight.”
DeHeer said ideally shoppers should keep their bags with them if they can and if not then store them out of sight. She said people may even consider moving their vehicle after putting things in the trunk to another part of the parking lot so if someone is watching the vehicle, he or she thinks they have left.
She said so far this month, there have been 22 instances of damage to vehicles in Red Deer, but not all of the instances involve theft. The damage isn’t restricted to one location. There have been three cases of vandalism to vehicles that have been reported to police in the Bower Place Shopping Centre area and two around 35th Street and Gaetz Avenue.
DeHeer also advised people to be careful at home. She said if people have a Christmas tree with all kinds of presents around it, they should make sure the items aren’t visible because it might encourage someone to break-in. She said people should close their blinds.
She also advised that after Christmas, people should be aware of the boxes they throw out in the trash, which could attract thieves. She said for instance if someone received a 52-inch television, they might not want to put the box in the trash because it is like advertising to thieves.
sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com
