The police, as well as Hamilton citizens who have seen criminals checking car doors to see if they are locked, have several pieces of advice. Police, as well as Connor Smith, who in November alerted police about four suspicious people, leading to their arrests, say just locking vehicle doors can prevent things being stolen, because thieves often don’t want to make noise breaking a car window.
Even so, Hamilton police spokeswoman Kristy Collins recommends not leaving valuable things in your vehicle — especially not where someone can see them.
Here are tips from Hamilton police:
Don’t leave any valuables in your vehicles
Having motion lights and security cameras helps deter criminals
Have a security system for your vehicle
Lock your car doors
Never leave your keys in your vehicle or your vehicle running, such as warming it up during the winter
Report suspicious activity (911 or non-emergency at 513-785-1300)
If you see suspicious activity, don’t hesitate to tell police, so they can check it out
Another tip for the rushed holidays, especially in shopping centers: “Slow down, be aware of your surroundings,” said Hamilton Police Chief Craig Bucheit.
Collins said, “Obviously, if they come across a vehicle and there’s a laptop sitting in there, and a purse, that’s going to be worth it to them to smash the window — it’s going to be worth it to them maybe hearing that, and maybe them cutting themselves by smashing the window, to get to what’s in there.”
“But if they walk the vehicle and they don’t see anything of value in it, and it’s locked, it might not be worth it to them because they know, ‘If I break this glass, it’s not only going to make noise where somebody can hear it. I could get cut, too.’”
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