Eugene Police Department has received an online report where the rear window of an SUV was completely shattered and the thief took all valuables including two cases of 30-roll toilet paper and some valuable business and personal items. The theft occurred on March 14 between midnight and 5:45 a.m. in the 3700 block of W. 11th Avenue. Case 20-04940
Anytime vehicles are left unattended for extended periods of time, local thieves view it as a favorable opportunity. It is not enough to lock the vehicle before leaving. To reduce the possibility of theft and deter criminals from breaking in to your vehicle, it is important to incorporate the following tips when leaving your vehicle.
THEFT FROM VEHICLE TIPS:
Theft from a vehicle is one of the most common crimes in our area. In almost all cases, the victims had left property visible in the vehicle. There is one clear message, if you want to keep someone from breaking into your vehicle, don’t leave anything in your vehicle. If you must leave something in your vehicle, keep it out of sight from anyone who might be looking in. Consider the following rules to avoid becoming a victim.
Be careful when leaving electronics in your vehicle, GPS, MP3 players, etc. Even just a cord visible, indicates the likelihood such a device is inside. Your safest option is to leave anything you consider valuable at home.
Don’t park and then put something in your vehicle’s trunk and then walk away from the vehicle. If someone saw you put it in, they can usually access your trunk by breaking into your vehicle and accessing the trunk release. Instead, put the item in the trunk before arriving at your location. This is especially important at hiking/running locations, sporting events and shopping malls.
Secure vehicles by rolling up the windows and locking doors (even on a hot day – it is better to take a few minutes to air out a hot car than to discover a theft).