Forest Heights is a safe neighborhood, but common sense must prevail when it comes to car break-ins. The good news is that car prowls are one of the easiest crimes to reduce with increased awareness and a change in habits. The following preventive measures will reduce the chances that you will be a target of a car prowl:
- Keep the interior of your car “showroom” clean. Never leave valuables, including bags, purses, wallets, briefcases, laptops, cell phones, loose change or anything that may appear valuable to a thief in plain view. Also, remember to remove garage door openers, key cards, or house or work keys from the car so a car prowler cannot gain access to your home
- Don’t store or leave credit cards, identification or personal information in your glove box or anywhere in your car
- If you have to leave valuables in your car, put them in the trunk before you get to your destination
- If possible, store your car in a closed and locked garage, and never leave your garage door open
- If your car is stored in a carport or parked near your house, leave your exterior lights on throughout the night.
- Consider replacing the light fixture closest to your car with a motion detector unit. Motion detectors are good psychological deterrents since the normal assumption of a person seeing a light come on is that someone has seen them. Additionally, the light makes the prowler or thief more visible
