MASON CITY – With the arrival of the holiday shopping season, many of us will be leaving our vehicles unattended in larger parking lots while we shop, eat, catch a movie, or workout at the gym. We have taken a few reports of vehicle burglaries recently where the suspect broke out a side window and stole a purse or a bag while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot. Please be vigilant and practice these vehicle burglary prevention tips when parking your car.
• Make sure your vehicle’s doors are locked and the windows are secured.
• Never leave your vehicle running and unattended with the keys inside.
• Never leave an unsecured firearm in a parked vehicle.
• Do not leave valuables in a vehicle. If you must, at least hide them from public view. Purses, bags, and electronics laying out make a vehicle an attractive target.
• If possible, park in well-lit areas.
• Contact the Police immediately if you find your vehicle was burglarized. Contact your financial institution or credit card company as soon as possible if any credit/debit cards or checks were stolen.
• Consider removing your garage door opener from your vehicle when leaving it unattended.
• Report suspicious activity to the police.
Porch pirates, car thieves, cellphone muggings, are all on the rise. In the biggest cities they are an epidemic!