The busiest shopping days of the year are upon us, prompting Surrey RCMP to offer anti-theft tips for Christmas shoppers.
Car thieves are also out looking for gifts, so don’t let them ruin your holiday season, too, writes Carrie Chattell, Crime Prevention Programs coordinator at the Cloverdale/Port Kells community police office, in thelatest Business Link newsletter.
Here are a few ways to prevent your vehicle or its contents – your parcels and packages – from being stolen:
• RCMP recommend at least one anti-theft device, particularly a passive immobilizer. They deter thieves because they don’t want to waste time or energy trying to remove them. They also work as a visual deterrent.
• Don’t leave anything inside your vehicle. Take your possessions with you or leave them at home, otherwise lock them in the trunk, out of sight – something that should be done before you travel to your next destination. “Thieves are watching,” Chattell writes. “Putting items in your trunk after you get to your shopping destination may draw attention to a thief.”
• Don’t leave a spare key in your vehicle.
• Park in well-lit areas, and avoid parking behind fences or hedges.
Finally, if you see any suspicious person or activity near a vehicle, call the Surrey RCMP non-emergency line at 604-599-0502. If you witness a crime in progress, call 9-1-1.