Auto burglaries on the rise
Careless vehicle owners can almost "invite" a vehicle break-in

Riverside, Ca- Auto burglaries increased between the months of April and May 2007 in the West Neighborhood Policing area of Riverside. This area includes the Galleria at Tyler, Arlanza, La Sierra and Western Hills neighborhoods. A high percentage of these burglaries may have been prevented, as many of the victims provided targets of opportunity for thieves.

Analysis of the burglary police reports revealed several common factors in these crimes, including the fact that the stolen items, in most of these cases, was left inside of the vehicle but left in easy view from the outside of the vehicle. This allows a thief the luxury of knowing what he/she is getting before committing the break in. The loss frequently consisted of women’s purses, wallets, luggage, GPS units and DVD players. When purses and wallets are stolen and they contain driver’s licenses, credit cards and other identifying information, then credit card fraud and identity theft and related crimes additionally occur within hours after the vehicle break in, causing further victimization.

Vehicle burglaries traditionally increase during the summer months when the weather is warmer and school is out of session. Motorists can help protect their assets by keeping valuables on hand when parking and locking a vehicle.

Helpful safety reminders:

• Don’t leave anything of value in plain view inside of an unattended vehicle.

• Park in well-traveled and well-lit areas.

• Be alert to your surroundings and do not park your vehicle near locations where you observe suspicious people or activities.

• Take notes, including suspect and suspect vehicle description/ license plate number, and report these people and activities to your local police department.