The Hall County Sheriff's Office has issued a reminder ahead of the holiday season, reminding residents to be careful about leaving their vehicles unlocked and, thus, vulnerable to thieves. HCSO suggests the following tips to keep your vehicles safe during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
- Always lock your vehicle – many times thieves will only enter unlocked vehicles – the majority of entering autos cases reported to the Sheriff’s Office involved unlocked vehicles.
- Do not leave your keys in your vehicle – quick way to turn an entering auto case into a motor vehicle theft case
- Do not leave electronic devices or charging cords in plain view - if a power or charging cord is visible from the exterior of the vehicle a criminal might assume that an electronic device is also inside the vehicle
- Do not leave valuables (purses, wallets, identification, credit/debit cards, currency, etc.) in your vehicle
- If you do decide to leave valuable items in your vehicle always lock them in the trunk
- With Christmas fast approaching, it is suggested that you do not leave presents, valuables or other items in plain view
- When shopping attempt to park in well-lit areas and be aware of your surroundings– which can be very difficult during the holiday season
- Criminals often take advantage of “targets of opportunity”, focusing on an entire parking lot or a neighborhood when attempting thefts from vehicles – be watchful for suspicious vehicles or people in your neighborhoods at night
- When at home try to park in the garage if possible and close the door.
