Don’t Make It Easy for Crooks
June19, 2008
Lake Saint Louis
Lake Saint Louis Police remind residents that sometimes simple precautions will deter crooks and vandals looking for an easy target.
According to Chief Michael Force, there are a number of things people can do to make their property less desirable to would-be larcenists and vandals. He offers a few simple suggestions that can decrease an individual’s chance of becoming a victim.
“The first thing that comes to mind is that people should park their vehicle in their garages, when possible. That will deter an opportunist from siphoning gas, entering or vandalizing the vehicle,” said Chief Force. “Sometimes the few seconds it takes to secure your property saves one a lot of aggravation.”
Chief Force also recommends that people get into the habit of removing valuables such as laptop computers, electronic games and devices, wallets, purses, cash and credit devices from vehicles that will be parked and left unattended for more than a few minutes.
Likewise, he suggests that people make sure their residences are reasonably secure when they leave the premises, even when only for brief periods of time.
“Good common sense is one of the first lines of security when it comes to protecting your home and valuables. Yet many are casual or unthinking in their actions. You might be surprised how many people think the solution to remembering where they left their keys is to leave them in the ignition of their vehicles, “commented Chief Force. “That is an open invitation for a thief to drive off with it.”
“Proactive, observant citizens are a very powerful law enforcement tool,” he continued. “People who secure their valuables, lock up their vehicles and homes, remain observant of activities and people nearby, know and interact with their neighbors, and report suspicious vehicles, people or behavior to police make our jobs as law enforcement officers easier; people who don’t take the time or make the effort to do so invite criminal behavior, making our jobs more difficult.”
Copyright 2008 Neighbors About Town