Police React to Auto Break-Ins

Auto break-ins and thefts from cars are increasing in Mount Pleasant, but police say there are simple things residents can do to protect their property and reduce these crimes.

Just last week, seven auto break-ins were reported. Recently, police responded to more than a dozen break-ins in a week, according to reports.

The crimes follow typical patterns, said Officer Donald Calabrese, the town’s crime prevention officer. However, he said, Mount Pleasant residents simply leave their vehicles unlocked and often place their valuables in plain sight.

“Roughly 80 percent of break-ins happen when the vehicle is left unsecured,” Calabrese said.

Of course, the victims aren’t to blame, but Calabrese said residents shouldn’t make criminals' jobs easier.

“Criminals follow the path of least resistance," he said. "Why would they smash a window when they can just open the door?"

The break-ins happen all over the city: shopping centers, apartment complexes and even the nicest of neighborhoods.

“Criminals like nice things, too, and sometimes people who live in nice areas get complacent about protecting their property,” Calabrese said.

Even if the doors are locked, when criminals see something they really want, they will break a window to get it, he said. That’s why it’s important to remove or stow away valuables when exiting your vehicle.

“Always park in well-lit areas. Light is one of the biggest deterrents of crime,” Calabrese said. “And you’d be surprised how many people leave laptops, cash, GPS devices, cell phones and even firearms in plain view. That’s a big temptation.”

Mount Pleasant police have stepped up patrols and education efforts to head criminals off at the pass.

“Auto break-ins have increased with the majority of the victims’ vehicles being unsecured,” said Capt. Stan Gragg, police spokesman. “We have continued our aggressive Lock it or Lose it campaign to attempt to reduce this trend.”

Officers have placed signs around town, and the city is continuing its long-standing practice of placing notes on cars and homes where officers observe unlocked doors or other actions that expose the resident to a crime.

Even when residents do everything right, crimes still happen, Calabrese admits. So there are steps property owners can take to mitigate losses in the event of a crime.

“Keep an inventory of the items you carry regularly and record the make, model and serial numbers,” Calabrese said.

Doing so allows officers to immediately know what was taken and then to enter the information into a national pawn shop database, Calabrese said.

To stop crimes, residents should report suspicious behavior or unfamiliar residents in neighborhoods, Calabrese said. Police reports show dozens of officers are making patrols all over the city on a nightly basis, but Mount Pleasant spans 73 square miles, and it’s impossible for cops to be everywhere.

“The city is a huge puzzle, and residents know their neighborhoods best,” Calabrese said. “Residents are our biggest tools in preventing crimes and helping us connect all those puzzle pieces."