Every day, officers remind people that opportunity makes the thief; unfortunately, the past weekend confirmed this once again. – As many as four reported thefts from inside cars show how easily criminals take advantage of even a momentary lapse in drivers’ attention. In several cases, the vehicles were not locked at all – reports asp. Anna Tersa from the Legnica Municipal Police Headquarters.
Last weekend, officers from the Municipal Police Headquarters in Legnica received as many as four reports concerning the theft of items from cars parked in the city:
- On Friday, the perpetrator got inside a vehicle and stole a wallet containing documents.
- On Saturday, a pouch was stolen from an unlocked car. It contained €15,000 and PLN 8,000.
- On Sunday, the Municipal Police Headquarters received two reports. In one case, the thief smashed a window and stole money and perfume, causing losses amounting to PLN 1,300. In the other, keys, a jacket and shoes worth PLN 2,500 were stolen from an unlocked vehicle.
How can you avoid similar situations?
Remember the basic rules:
- Always check that the vehicle is locked, even if you are only stepping away for a moment.
- Do not leave valuable items in the car, such as handbags, wallets, electronics, documents or money.
- Do not keep items in plain sight; hiding them “under the seat” is not a security measure.
- Secure your documents and keys; losing them is not only costly but also creates a risk that they will be used in further crimes.
- If you see suspicious people near parked cars who are “trying the handles” to check whether a vehicle is locked, react and report it to the police.
Officers: – Remember that in many cases a thief needs only a few seconds to take advantage of an owner’s inattention. Make sure your belongings do not become easy prey.