Vehicle Burglaries on the Rise; Don’t Become a Victim!CLEARWATER - In recent months, the Clearwater Police Department has seen an increase in vehicle burglaries. Just this month alone, there have been 51 citywide. Many of the vehicles were left unlocked, making it an easy target for thieves. In other cases, the windows were smashed out because something of value was left in plain sight. Items taken include GPS units, iPods/MP3 players, cameras, wallets and purses. The majority of these burglaries occurred at night or in the early morning hours in front of a residence. Vehicle burglaries are often a crime of opportunity. An unlocked car is an open invitation to a car thief. Follow these safety tips to reduce your chances of becoming a vehicle burglary victim:
GPS units are a hot item these days among thieves. CPD recommends removing your GPS unit from the vehicle. If you must leave it inside, make sure your GPS unit is not visible and take down the suction mounts-they are a dead giveaway there may be a GPS unit hidden somewhere inside.
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