In the past three weeks, the Valparaiso Police Department has taken approximately 45 reports of items taken from parked vehicles. These thefts have occurred throughout the entire city and nearly every theft was a result of the vehicle being left unlocked. Officers have made numerous arrests of subjects stealing items from unlocked vehicles over the past few months, but the best way to prevent thefts from vehicles is to always lock your vehicle.
This is a reminder that all vehicle owners should always lock their car doors when leaving their vehicle unattended for any amount of time. Valuable items in a locked vehicle should be covered up or hidden in the vehicle. Keeping valuable items such as ipods, laptop computers, GPS systems, radar detectors and loose change in your unlocked vehicle is an invitation for items to be taken.
In past years, as the summer months approach and the temperature increases so does the number of thefts from vehicle. Do not be a victim of a crime of opportunity and lock your vehicles.