Bellevue Police offer safety tips to prevent car prowls

Published 5:13 pm Thursday, August 5, 2010

During the warm weather, many people head to the parks, beaches and trail heads for exercise and fun. To keep the outing from turning sour, Bellevue Police are offering tips to prevent car prowls.

In a nutshell, remember to lock your cars, close your windows and don’t leave any valuables in your car.

From Jan to July of 2009, there were 934 car prowls compared to 919 during that same period this year. Breaking a window takes less than 2 seconds, police say, and stealing several items takes under a minute. Here’s what people can do to avoid problems.

Parking your vehicle in a locked garage is best, police say. They also advise not leaving car keys in the vehicle, even when parked in a garage. And, they add, don’t forget to close your garage door.

Those who see a crime occurring should write down descriptions of involved suspects, vehicles leaving the scene, the license plates and the direction of travel of the vehicle. Police also advise people staying on the phone with 911.

Bellevue Police note that while people cannot stop the entrance method, (breaking glass, prying a lock…), they can make their vehicle less appealing by not storing anything of value inside. They also advise parking in well travelled areas and in well lit areas.

Police note that areas of concern include shopping centers, parks, trailheads, and park and rides, but also note that people should always take precautions anywhere they park. That includes not arriving to parking areas and then placing your valuables in the trunk while others could be watching. People should place valuables in the trunk prior to arriving at the parking area.

In other advice, police say people should not store their garage door opener in the car since the opener is, in essence, a key to their home. Also, electronics, (i.e., Laptop, GPS…) should not be stored in a car.

One interesting note by police is for people to wipe the suction cup mark off their windshield. That’s a good indicator that you are storing electronic devices in your car. and, if a person has an alarm, they should use it.

Police advise people to copy down all serial numbers of electronics that they own for home and auto because without a serial number the police cannot track the item.

For those out jogging, police advise not storing their wallet/purse in the car. Such items should be left at home with only the basics, such as a driver’s license and some money or credit card, going along for the jog.