The Grinch might have come down the chimney to steal Christmas, but real-life Grinches could be sneaking around a parking lot to steal gifts from unlocked vehicles. The Victoria Police Department’s Community Engagement Unit offers these tips to help you prevent thieving Grinches from stealing your Christmas cheer.
Vehicle burglaries continue to be a common crime in Victoria, and 77% of vehicle burglaries happen in unlocked vehicles. Remember that vehicle burglaries are a crime of opportunity, so don’t make yourself an easy target.
We encourage residents to protect themselves by remembering to “hide, lock, take”:
- Hide your valuables out of sight (or take them with you)
- Lock your vehicle
- Take your keys with you, even if you’ll only be gone a minute
To help educate residents about vehicle burglary prevention, we have been visiting parking lots to issue “burglary report cards.” With the property owner’s permission, we leave flyers facedown under residents’ windshield wipers, giving grades of “pass” or “fail” and letting them know what steps they should take to secure their vehicles and their valuables.
Holiday shoppers should also be wary of “jugging,” a crime in which a thief spots a victim leaving a bank or a store with cash or other valuables, then follows the victim to steal the goods.
If you’re visiting a bank to withdraw funds, make sure your cash is sealed away out of sight before you leave the bank. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; you should only carry the cash or cards you need to make your purchases.
If you suspect you are being followed, call us at 361-573-3221, or call 911.
If thieves do make off with your valuables, your chances of getting them back will greatly improve if you can provide law enforcement with identifying information, such as the make, model and serial number. Consider making a photo inventory of your valuable items and their serial numbers, and don’t forget to update it with any new gadgets that you get for Christmas.
Upcoming events
The Community Engagement Unit hosts events throughout the year so that we can meet the people we serve and build relationships with our community. Here are some of our upcoming events and ongoing initiatives:
- Blue Santa/Toys for Tots: We partner with Toys for Tots to make sure every child can have a gift at Christmas. For more information about the program, visit www.toysfortots.org or follow Toys for Tots – Victoria County on Facebook.
- Civilian Police Academy: This program is for adults who would like a behind-the-scenes look at the everyday work of protecting our community. The next academy will start in February. Application forms are available at our Victoria Mall office or online at www.victoriatx.gov/police.
- Lunch and Learn: We will not have a Lunch and Learn in December. The next one will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Victoria Community Center. Our scheduled topic is “Smartphone Savvy,” a program for understanding the capabilities of your smartphone and protecting yourself from cybercriminals.
- Security surveys: We can evaluate your home or business to determine whether you are adequately protected from crime. Get in touch with us to request a survey.
For more information about these programs, contact the Community Engagement Unit at 361-485-3808 or policeceu@victoriatx.gov.
Officer John Turner is a member of the Victoria Police Department’s Community Engagement Unit.