At this time of year, most of us are making an extra effort to be nice, but we still need to be on the lookout for criminals who don’t care that Santa is watching.
Vehicle burglaries are a particular cause for concern when residents are out shopping for gifts. We call vehicle burglaries “crimes of opportunity” because thieves tend to steal from vehicles when the circumstances make it easy for them to do so.
About 70% of vehicle burglaries in Victoria happen in unlocked vehicles. On the rare occasions when a thief steals from a locked vehicle, it is usually because a purse or other valuable item was left in plain sight, allowing the thief to break in and quickly grab the object.
We may want to believe that the people around us will be as nice to us as we are to them, but people who are on the naughty list don’t see it that way. The Victoria Police Department encourages 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
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 with you.
If you suspect you are being followed, call us at 361-573-3221, or call or text 911. Do not use the Victoria TX 311 app for emergencies or urgent service requests.
After you open your gifts on Christmas morning, make sure to take photos of any valuable items and record their serial numbers. Doing this will help law enforcement to locate them if they are ever stolen, and it will make it easier for your insurance to replace them if they are damaged.
Upcoming events
The Community Engagement Unit has been busy working with our nonprofit partners to spread Christmas cheer through our Blue Santa program. Giving to those in need is a rewarding holiday tradition, and we encourage residents to donate to local nonprofits so that everyone in Victoria can have a merry Christmas.
Here are some more ways that we are connecting with our community:
- 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. 21 at the Victoria Community Center and will feature the City’s Communications team with helpful tips about staying connected with the City of Victoria.
- Security surveys: We can evaluate your home or business at no cost 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.