Residents are being cautioned by the Houston Police Department (HPD) that an uptick in car thefts and break-ins may also occur during the Christmas season.
Although it may seem obvious to lock your car when you’re out and about and keep valuables out of it, Sgt. Tracy Hicks of HPD’s auto theft branch stated that individuals often let their guard down during this time of year.
We’re from Houston. We are more knowledgeable. Valuables are never left in our car. We also follow a routine. According to Hicks, we lock up our belongings before leaving for work. Guess what happens? Family and friends start to visit the area around Thanksgiving.
According to Hicks, consumers may attend to events and locations they wouldn’t often visit or shop more. According to Hicks, common items taken from cars include cash, credit cards, laptops, and firearms.
According to Hicks, cars with a bag in plain sight or stickers on them may occasionally draw extra attention from criminals. This could include military or veteran stickers.
“That’s probably going to be the first one I’m going to look in if that truck is parked in a bar-slash-restaurant and I’m a crook,” he said. Therefore, we do make an effort to inform folks that we might be carrying a pistol in our car.
According to Hicks, residents can take preemptive steps by using tracker tags or recording the serial numbers of pricey things, such as computers or portable gaming consoles, so that they may be retrieved in the event that they are stolen. He advised gun owners to consider keeping a safe in their vehicle.
However, Hicks stated that leaving costly or possibly hazardous items at home is the best course of action.
Additionally, police advise customers to avoid using their phones and other distractions when they are moving between stores. There may also be more strangers requesting help or money in parking lots, according to Officer James Sobota.
Do not go home if you believe you are being followed, he advised, as these criminals may follow you to your garage, driveway, or parking space and may rob you since they are aware of your specific possessions.
Sobota went on to advise customers to stay away from strangers and report any unusual activities to a security guard or local police officer. For used goods they spotted online, other purchasers may also meet up with strangers. According to Sobota, the ideal places for such circumstances are police stations or open, well-lit areas.
He advised never to meet someone in a place you’re unfamiliar with and to always bring someone with you.
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