Law enforcement offers tips to secure your vehicle against break-ins

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WALA) - If you leave your valuables in your car, don’t be surprised if they come up missing.

At least that’s the message from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office this holiday season.

A rash of vehicle break-ins along the Eastern Shore has them concerned, because the thieves are breaking out windows to get at the goods.  

A GPS left on the dashboard may as well be a neon sign to crooks that says, “Come take me.” A laptop left on the seat or a cell phone in the console - much the same.

Investigators are reminding folks that what's the giving season for most is the taking season for crooks.

“This is an ongoing problem but, especially this time of year, we see an increase in this particular type of crime,” said Investigator Eric Winberg with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.

Thieves have targeted cars in three eastern shore neighborhoods in recent weeks. Landsdown on Highway 181, Stagecoach and Buzbee Roads and Blakely Oaks in Spanish Fort have all been hit. These crooks aren’t just looking for easy targets with their doors unlocked.

Sheriff’s investigators said it’s important to remember that it’s not enough to just close up and lock your car.  They said you also need to remember to remove all of your valuables.

“The break-ins are actual true break-ins where they’re actually smashing the windows in these cars to gain access to the valuables inside,” Winberg said.

Roger Syx lives in the Landsdown subdivision and considers himself somewhat of a gatekeeper for his growing neighborhood. He and his neighbors are keeping a much closer watch on things after the break-ins there.

“Nobody’s really frightened,” said Syx. “They just say they’re going to have to start taking more precaution... make sure they don’t leave anything in the cars that would cause someone to want to break into them.”

Winberg also suggests taking a picture of your valuable electronics along with their serial number. This will not only help with insurance claims if you become a victim, but will help law enforcement in their investigation.

Besides looking out for your neighbor, locking your car and removing valuables, Winberg said there’s one more thing to remember this time of year.

“I know that this time of year that it’s real common to maybe hide Christmas presents in the cars and things like that, but we’re asking that you remove those,” said Winberg. “That’s not a suitable hiding place for Christmas presents.”