Prevent Theft of Property From Vehicles

At the L Streets Summer Meeting on July 9, our Neighborhood Police Officer, Mitchell Gatson, asked that we be aware that theft of property from vehicles is the number one incident of crime reported in our area. Dallas Police Department reports for residences in the L Streets Neighborhood show that it happens more often than the total number of all other types of crime.

Take Action to Prevent Theft From Your Vehicle

Most times the property that is stolen is portable and not affixed to the vehicle. Everything from GPS, radar detectors, purses, laptops, briefcases, phones, money - you name it. Since most property that is stolen from a vehicle is portable, you can reduce the risk for a break-in and/or theft from your vehicle. Here's how:

• Take property with you or hide it in covered storage or in the trunk so it is not visible. Remember not to hide the property while parked in the area where you're going to leave the vehicle because a thief may be "casing" the area.
• For items with mounts and power cords (GPS units, radar detectors, phones etc.), remove the mounts and cords and hide them. Suction cup mounts often leave a ring on the window. Thieves look for this, and even if the GPS/Radar Detector (or whatever) isn't there, they'll break in and look around inside the vehicle. So, clean off those rings before leaving your vehicle.
• Remove and take or hide faceplates from custom audio/video units.
• Keep windows rolled up. Keeping windows open or partially open may help keep your vehicle cool in the summertime, but it's an invitation for thieves. Instead you can use a sunshade to block the sun and keep your vehicle interior cooler.
• Keep doors locked. Sure, someone can break the window and get inside, but if you've left nothing visible inside, there's little incentive to do so. If the vehicle is unlocked, however, a thief often will take a look inside.
• Utilize your vehicle alarm and other built-in theft prevention technology.
• Purchase and utilize locking devices for pickup truck tailgates and especially for custom rims on any vehicle.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Don't park in secluded areas.
• Park in well-lighted areas at night. Keep outdoor lighting at your home in functioning condition, especially lighting for driveways and other parking areas. If you are parking somewhere and it will be dark before you return to your vehicle, try to park near a light pole.
• Keep the inside of your your vehicle clutter free. Remove visible items - cash or coins, laptops, laptop cords, phone chargers, handbags, coffee cups, wallets, credit cards, cell phones, brief cases, golf clubs, tools, CDs, duffel bags, office equipment, mail, backpacks, sports equipment, file folders, dry cleaning, radar detectors, shopping bags, even empty boxes!
• Never leave your engine running and the vehicle unlocked/unattended. Every day in the summertime people run into their local dry cleaner, grocery store, or gas station for only a second, and they leave the engine running and the a/c on because they want to come back to a cool vehicle interior. Don't do it.

Call 9-1-1 as soon as you are able about all suspicious or criminal activity! These activities and types of behavior may indicate a potential vehicle burglary or auto theft:

• Looking inside vehicle windows or pulling on vehicle door handles, then looking to see if anyone is watching. This is highly suspicious activity in a residential neighborhood, but it is also unusual activity at any location.
• Bumping a vehicle to see if the vehicle has an alarm.
• Breaking a window or using tools to defeat the locking mechanisms to enter the vehicle.
• Taking items from a vehicle and loading them in another vehicle.