Community Corner

Prevent Car Break-ins This Holiday Season

Advice on how to prevent being targeted during the busiest shopping season of the year.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office has sent the following message to local residents:


1) Don’t leave items in plain view in your vehicle such as navigation devices, cell phones, docking ports and chargers. Unplug these items, remove them from your dash or windshield and put them in your glove box compartment.

2) When you leave home to shop, think ahead.  Many thieves watch holiday shoppers and look for opportunities. AFTER shopping, place items away from sight in the trunk. Don't park and place items in the trunk BEFORE shopping. Thieves watch you load-up your car and wait for you to enter the store, so they can grab items they saw you place in your car.

3) Finally, The simplest and easiest way to protect your holiday purchases... is to merely LOCK YOUR CAR.

Thieves look for an easy victim. They walk around parking lots and drive around streets looking for items in plan view.  Seldom will they break a vehicle window on a hunch.  Put items in your trunk prior to arriving at your final destination and always lock your car and set your car alarm if you have one.

Trust your instincts; report any suspicious activity immediately to your local law enforcement agency.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here