Over the last couple of weeks, several people in Jackson County particularly in the Seymour area have fallen victim to car break-ins.  With Christmas just around the corner and the holiday shopping season upon us, your Indiana State Police offer some tips to help citizens from becoming the targets of these thieves.  Though there are no guarantees, by following the tips below your car may be a less attractive target for someone looking for an easy mark.

• Always lock your car.  Even if you’re only going to be away from it for a few minutes, make sure all doors are locked and windows rolled up all the way.
• If possible, park in a well lighted area or near a busy street or walkway.
• If you have a car alarm, activate it before leaving your car.
• Don’t leave any articles of value on the seats or visible in the passenger compartment of the car.  Take out all electronics such as cell phones, iPad’s, CD’s, MP 3 Players, or any other articles of value and store them in the locked glove box or trunk.
• Remove your GPS including the mount from the windshield.  Clean the suction cup marks from the windshield to remove all indications a GPS or other electronic device may be somewhere in the vehicle.
• If you plan to visit several locations while Christmas shopping, put purchases in the trunk of your car before going into another store.  Again, never leave them in the passenger compartment.  This will only make your vehicle a more likely target if potential thieves see something inside your vehicle they believe may be of value.

If you see suspicious activity in a parking lot or someone who looks “out of place” in these parking areas, get a good description and contact the police.