Vehicle Burglary Prevention Tips from St. Pete Police Dept.

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Published: Monday, 15 June 2015 12:46

Vehicle Burglary Prevention Tips

The St. Petersburg Police Department would like to give you a few vehicle burglary prevention tips. There are many things vehicle owners and residents can do to protect themselves, their neighbors and their property. By taking actions to prevent vehicle burglaries and reporting suspicious activity, residents can curb vehicle burglaries in their neighborhoods and public parking lots.

• Secure your vehicle by locking all doors and rolling up the windows.

• Do not leave any personal property lying on the seats of the vehicle.

• Always put personal property away (out of sight), prior to arrival at your destination; place the property under a seat or inside the trunk.

• Do not leave your valet or spare key in your vehicle.

• Do not leave money in your ashtray or cup holder.

• Keep your garage door remote out of plain view, and if stolen, change the remote control frequency.

• Don’t leave a vehicle in unattended parking lots for an extended period.

• Never attach a tag with your name and address to your key ring. If the keys are lost or stolen, the tag will lead a thief directly to your car and your home. If you have to leave your vehicle with a parking attendant, leave only the ignition key.

• At home, leave your outside lights on, or install motion lights in areas where they cannot be defeated.

• At night, park in well-lit areas with lots of people around.

• Consider an alarm system and steering wheel lock.

• Do not leave your vehicle running or your keys in the vehicle unattended. (This is a violation of State Statute and you can receive a citation for this.)

• Don’t hesitate to report any person(s) in your neighborhood who appear suspicious or out of place. If possible get a description of the subjects. Time is of the essence.