'Lock It Or Lose It,' Palo Alto Police Reminds During Holidays

PALO ALTO, CA -- The holidays bring the usual distraction with good cheer and socializing. But there's nothing cheery about coming home or back to your vehicle to find your property gone and safety compromised.

That's why the Palo Alto Police Department is putting out a reminder that sounds as simple as "Just Say No" to drug use -- "Lock it or lose it." The campaign is designed to warn citizens that in order to keep items safe, they need to be secured behind a locked door. The program also delves into how to recognize suspicious behavior and when to report it.

Palo Alto has experienced fewer burglaries over the past year. As of Nov. 15, 392 auto burglaries and 102 auto thefts have occurred in comparison to 2017's 622 and 189, respectively. Home break-ins number 81 in contrast to 94 the prior year.

Still, this is no time to let one's guard down, police contend.

There are tips of the trade:

• Never leave valuables in a vehicle -- including the trunk as thieves will break a window to pop it, especially after watching shoppers place their goods there.
• Lock doors and windows, including side gates, as burglars often enter through the back yard where they're not as seen.
• Have packages delivered to the office or to a neighbor's instead of an unattended, unoccupied home where thieves may nab packages off the porch, an increasing crime.

More information may be picked up by visiting:

--Image via Shutterstock, video courtesy of Palo Alto Police Department