Holiday Season Equals Rise In Car Burglaries

Unfortunately the holiday season is also the season for crooks. Thieves are getting very busy burglarizing vehicles in East Tennessee. Hamblen County Sheriff Chad Mullins says that they and other counties in the area, are seeing an increase in vehicle thefts. Most of those vehicles burglarized, were unlocked.

Mullins says “people are leaving valuables in their car: purses, jewelry, medications, shopping bags, wrapped gifts, etc. When thieves see these items, the first thing they do is check the doors. When they’re unlocked there’s no barrier to stop them from helping themselves to your belongings,”. The sheriff says “Even if you’re parked in your own driveway, the smart thing to do is always lock your doors.”

Also, with the colder weather, it is tempting to start your vehicle and then go back inside to the warmth of your home while you let the vehicle get warm. Sheriff Mullins says “A running, unlocked and unattended vehicle is a prime target for a car thief. Some of these warm-up thefts are random, but usually a criminal will watch you and your daily habits, seeing exactly what time each day you start your car and walk away from it.”

One thing you can do to combat this is get an extra set of keys, so you can lock your car while it is warming up. Sheriff Mullins advises the best way to safeguard your belongings and your vehicle this holiday season is to be vigilant and use common sense.