It’s the middle of the summer. Days are long, it’s always too hot or too wet, and the magic of summer vacation has dimmed in kids off from school. It’s also prime season for vandalism and petty thefts — especially opportunistic vehicle burglaries. Need proof? Just peruse the blotter.
Here in the western communities, violent crime is rare, but property crime remains a continual problem. However, it is also a problem that can be minimized with a few proactive measures.
Too often, the relative safety of our communities lull us into a false sense of security. Many residents feel comfortable leaving doors to vehicles and homes unlocked, and valuable items on display in cars. This is a waiting invitation for crimes of opportunity.
Recently, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office send out a reminder to all residents regarding its “Lock It Or Lose It” campaign. The reminder was in response to several weeks of increasing vehicle burglaries, specifically in the Royal Palm Beach area, but also in other communities. A large number of these incidents involved owners forgetting to lock their vehicles.
The PBSO warns all residents not to leave valuables such as GPS units, laptops, cell phones and purses/wallets in plain view; do not leave windows open and/or doors unlocked; do not leave keys or garage door openers inside the vehicle; do not leave out items with personal information; and do not move valuable items to the trunk while in public view.
It is true that home invasion burglaries are also a concern in the western communities, and those are harder to prevent. However, a little bit of precaution by securing your vehicles and keeping your valuables inside at night will make it far less likely that you will become the next victim of a petty criminal roaming the street at night.
