News : Help Prevent Car Break-ins

Benton County Sheriff's Office have seen an increase in the number of thefts from parked cars. In many cases the vehicles were left unlocked and thieves simply helped themselves. The most frequent types of personal items stolen include wallets, purses, driver's license, insurance and registration information, computer laptops, cell phones, license plates, and garage door openers that may be used at a later date to gain access into a home. Not only is the theft of personal items difficult for the victim, many of these stolen items can be used by thieves to commit other crimes such as credit card fraud, identity theft, to name a few.

Car break-ins usually occur in clusters within neighborhoods. Thieves will target a neighborhood late one evening, moving to another neighborhood/ town on another night. The result is that cars parked anywhere throughout the county can be a target. While these incidents occur county-wide, the most recent activity has occurred in the southeast portion of the county.

While this type of crime is disturbing, the good news is that there are a number of common sense steps you can take to reduce the chances that you may become a victim of this crime. The Sheriff's Office encourage citizens to:
* Lock your car doors. As simple as it sounds, you would be surprised at how frequently items are stolen from an unlocked car. If a thief is looking at two vehicles, one locked and the other unlocked, the thief will routinely choose the unlocked car. Securing your car by closing the windows and locking the doors can help reduce your chances of being a victim of a vehicle break-in.
* Don't leave anything of value in your car. Leaving your purse, wallet, checkbook, computer laptop, or even your golf clubs in plain sight in your car can be an open invitation to a thief. If you must leave personal items in your car, secure them in the trunk and out of sight of the thief. Don't forget to remove your gym bag with your dirty clothes in it, or your book bag. A thief does not know what is in the bag and may be hoping to find your wallet, credit cards, checkbook, cell phone, palm pilot or other items of value. Always remove these personal items from your vehicle when you park the car for the evening.
* Use safety features if you have them. Activate your car alarm and use security cameras if you have them.
* Park in a well-lit and secure area that is visible to others. Thieves prefer to break-in to cars parked in a dark, secluded area, and will avoid well-lit areas if possible. Don't make it easier for the thief to do his work.
* Description of the Victim's Stolen Property
What to do if your car has been broken into - Notify the Benton County Sheriff's Office. A report of the break-in alerts law enforcement to crime activity in certain areas and it allows the police to respond with an investigation or extra patrols. Provide complete information on the stolen property, especially property that has serial numbers or other identifying numbers or marks.