Property crimes in Bellevue over the first nine months of 2014 were nearly 15-percent higher than the same time last year. With the holiday season in full swing, police want residents and shoppers to follow a few simple steps to discourage criminal behavior across the city.

Vehicle thefts in Bellevue saw the largest increase from January to September of this year, compared to last, at 29.7 percent. Larceny cases, which include shoplifting, stealing from vehicles and other thefts, were up 21.5 percent.

Amanda Jensen, residential crime prevention detective for the Bellevue Police Department, says most of the major criminals apprehended in the city are not residents; they are drawn in by Bellevue’s affluent reputation, and are not particular about what they’re stealing, if they think they can pawn the items for drug money.

It’s that same perception of affluence, Jensen says, that often causes residents to become victims.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to a car prowl and people are saying, ‘I can’t believe it, this is Bellevue,'” she said. “It’s definitely the mentality here that people don’t think this is going to happen to them, so they really open themselves up to it.”

There were 223 vehicle thefts reported from January through September of this year, compared with 248 for all of 2013. Jensen said these vehicles are not going to chop shops, rather they’re being used as easily accessible modes of transportation.

“More often than not, they’re not high-end cars that are stolen,” she said. “Typically, they’re used just as commuters for bad guys.”

Jensen added it’s not uncommon to recover a vehicle stolen from Bellevue in another city around the same time a vehicle is reported stolen in that community.

She said the spike in larceny cases — 2,704 over the first nine months of 2014, compared to 3,013 for all of 2013 — can be partly explained by increases in mail thefts.

“Mail theft is a gateway to identity theft,” Jensen said. “We’ve seen a real increase in people stealing mail from neighborhoods.”

The Bellevue Police Department is warning residents again this year about the seasonal spike in package thefts, due in part to many people buying gifts online and criminals taking advantage of delivery times.

Unfortunately, Jensen said, Bellevue is no longer a bedroom community, and criminals are going to continue to come here, as long as the opportunity to commit simple crimes exists. Her job is to help residents deter criminals by making sure the required effort is no longer worth the risk.

Residential car prowls and mail thefts affect entire neighborhoods, Jensen said, and should addressed by the entire neighborhood through community watch groups, which keep vigilant watch for suspicious people and activity.

Security cameras significantly improve officers’ ability to investigate car prowls, but Jensen said more apartment complexes in Bellevue need them; those without cameras tend to be targeted more than those that do.

“A lot of places still don’t have cameras,” she said. “It’s surprising when you go to a lot of places.”

Lockable mailboxes are recommended, but criminals often can still find a way to get in, she added. Jensen recommends residents “take a clue from the past,” getting to know their mail carrier and delivery schedule.

As for busy holiday shoppers this time of year, Jensen discourages people from taking items to their cars and then leaving them inside while they continue to shop; criminals often stakeout store parking lots.

Larceny property crimes were highest last year during December, compared with any other month in 2013.

Putting items in the trunk works well, but people should also consider deactivating the ability to open the trunk from inside their vehicles, making it harder for a criminal to access it without a key.

But what Jensen wishes more residents would do is to pick up the phone and call the police when they see something suspicious, which doesn’t always happen until a crime has been committed.

Those wanting to report suspicious activity in their neighborhood are encouraged to contact the police department’s nonemergency line at 425-577-5656.”It’s little pieces of the puzzle that come together and help us solve crimes,” Jensen said.