From the Office of the Sheriff Sheriff Dennis L. Dotson

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Date: March 20, 2008

Car Prowlers

We all know the risks of having our cars broken into when we go to unfamiliar places and leave our cars parked away from our view, but what about in our own neighborhoods? An experienced car prowler or thief can gain access to your car in virtually seconds. In less than 30 seconds, someone can break into a parked car. Most car prowls take less than two minutes. The damage done to locks and windows can be very expensive to repair and causes great inconvenience.

The following are tips that can reduce your risk of being a victim of a car prowl or theft.

• When you exit or enter your parked vehicle, stop and take a look around the area.
• Before leaving your parked car, always remove the keys, roll up the windows and lock the car.
• Make a habit of locking your garage door and car doors.
• If possible, store your car in a closed and locked garage.
• If your car is stored in a carport or parked near your house, leave your exterior lights on throughout the night.
• If you park on the street, choose a well-lit, open space even if it means adding additional street/yard lighting & trimming back trees/bushes that block your view of your vehicle.
• If you park your car in a dark or isolated area, consider installing security lights.
• Consider replacing the light fixture closest to your car with a motion detector unit. Motion detectors are a good psychological deterrent since the normal assumption of a person seeing a light come on is that someone has seen them. Additionally, the light makes the prowler or thief more visible.

Let’s work together to help prevent crime.

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