Police Remind Shoppers About Theft Prevention

TYLER — The largest shopping day of the year, commonly called Black Friday, is approaching fast and auto burglars will shop the easy way, by stealing your gifts, purses wallets, packages or other valuables you leave in plain sight inside your vehicle.

Authorities say, every 2 ½ minutes, a vehicle is burglarized in Texas with its contents stolen. These crimes escalate during this time of year when people increase shopping and do not take the necessary precautions to protect personal items left in a vehicle. Auto burglars scout shopping malls and other large parking lots, waiting for the opportunity to break into a vehicle. Within seconds, they take your items, your identity, and sometimes, your car. Drivers need to understand careless actions with vehicles and items left inside actually help auto burglars and thieves.

The Tyler Police Department offers these basic safety tips to motorists and shoppers
to prevent these crimes from occurring during the holiday season.

1) Do not follow too closely to the vehicle in front of you, slow your vehicle
speed down, don’t run red lights and please don’t Drink and Drive.

2) Hide your belongings and gifts from eyesight and lock them in your trunk or
cover them.

3) Lock your car, take the keys, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

4) Do not be a victim of a Pigeon Drop. Suspects will make you think you are
going to get a large amount of money and end up taking all of yours.

Officials say suspects will usually want to take you to your bank or ATM machine and these scams normally involve large sums of money. The department will have an increased patrol presence in shopping areas by providing bike officers and patrol officers.