Increase in vehicle burglaries

The Yuma Police Department is noticing an increase in vehicle burglaries, where vehicles are being left unlocked.

“It’s t hat time of year, black friday is coming up, people are going to start shopping, so if you’re going to the mall and you’re buying a lot of packages, don’t leave your packages in the open, front seat, back seat or openly visible to people. if you have a trunk, put it in the trunk. If it’s out of sight, it’s out of the mind of the burglar or the thief, so protect yourself. It’s your hard earned money. Your spending it, don’t let somebody else try to take it from you,” said Sergeant Lori Franklin.

Here are some safety tips to help keep you and your property safe.

Always lock your vehicle and keep valuables out of plain sight:

If you leave items in your front or back seats that appeal to a burglar, they will not think twice about entering your vehicle and taking what they want. If you leave your vehicle unlocked, you are making it easy for someone to take your belongings.

Never leave the keys in your vehicle:

With colder weather upon us, we tend to go out and start our cars so they are nice and warm when we get in. If you have a remote start that is a good idea, but if you don’t, some tend to start their vehicle and run back inside. Unless you utilize that spare car key and lock your doors, please do not walk away from your running unlocked vehicle.

Always try to park in an area with good lighting:

Whether it’s in front of your residence or when you’re out shopping, always park in a well-lit area at night. If your street light is out, call and have it fixed. When out shopping, stay away from the darker edges of the parking lot.

Don’t make it easy for the thief to take your vehicle or belongings.