Sheriff's tips to avoid holiday crime

St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office has issued a reminder of holiday crime patterns, and tips on prevention.
SMPSO says that along with the holiday shopping season comes an elevated rate of opportunity for crime.
Vehicle burglary is statutorily defined as the unauthorized entering of a vehicle with the intent to commit theft, and Sheriff Mark Hebert said, “The majority of vehicle burglaries worked by the investigators of our office—are crimes of opportunity involving unlocked vehicles.
“As we continue our community policing efforts to deter crime, we ask for your assistance in eliminating these crimes of opportunity. I strongly urge residents to get into the routine of locking your doors and placing valuables out of sight in a secure location.”
SMPSO also provided three common misconceptions they have noted about vehicle burglaries, along with explanations of how those misconceptions could put the public at risk.
The first misconception is that if the burglars want to get in to a vehicle, they will find a way in.
According to SMPSO, burglaries that involve forced entry, such as the breaking of windows, do not occur randomly. They say that most thieves will not take the time to break in, if there is nothing to tempt them.
SMPSO also says that without a clear goal in sight, a locked vehicle will likely be bypassed by the would-be thief, for an easier target.
It is further emphasized by the SMPSO that one can likely take away a thief’s desire to enter a vehicle, by removing valuables and any signs that there may be something of value in the vehicle—that includes removing: docking stations, charging or connecting cables, garage door openers, empty shopping bags, backpacks and other bags. If valuables must be left in a vehicle, the SMPSO advises to lock them in the trunk.
The second misconception, is the belief that being gone for only a few moments from one’s automobile, does not leave enough time for a theft to occur.
The SMPSO says that it only takes seconds for a thief to steal one’s belongings. A particular common practice that thieves use is that of walking down rows of parked vehicles, pulling on each door to see which ones are unlocked.
SMPSO urges citizens not to leave any window open or cracked open, including vent or wing windows and sunroofs; and never to leave one’s vehicle unattended with the engine running and keys in the ignition.
The third of the three common misconceptions is the view that after a vehicle burglary has occurred, there is no need for the victim to report the crime to police, as the likelihood of catching the thief and retrieving the stolen property, is minimal.
SMPSO wishes to remind citizens that their investigators are skilled in collecting evidence from vehicle burglary scenes, and solving those crimes. They also say that the information a victim has, may aid in solving other crimes under investigation, as well.
Reporting all crimes allows the SMPSO to track criminal trends, respond to those trends and alert the public.
Any suspicious activity should be reported to your local law enforcement agency. Dial 911 in an emergency. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 337-828-1960 or 985-384-1622.