Have a happy, and a safe, holiday season. That is the word from Newnan Police, who recently provided a message to shoppers to take extra precautions during the holiday shopping season.

During the holiday season citizens should take extra precaution against vehicle break-ins. Please make sure to lock car doors at all times, said Newnan Public Information Officer Gina Snider. Stereos, purses, shopping bags, radar detectors, cell phones and numerous other items are commonly taken from cars. In nearly every case the items were left in the open, visible to passersby, Snider said. Removing the items from view is one of your best defenses against this type of crime, she said.

Perhaps the most important tip of all is to never leave children alone in a vehicle, Snider added.

Newnan Police also advise citizens to be alert to their surroundings at all times. If someone feels uncomfortable about going to their vehicle alone be sure to ask the management or security of the store to escort them out, said Snider. It is always a good idea to shop with someone. The key is safety in numbers. 

Snider said that, unlike past years where expensive cars were targeted for theft, thieves today will target any vehicle.

“Even older models are taken by thieves due to their value in being chopped for replacement parts. Hundreds of anti-theft devices are available, from elaborate alarm systems to simple steering wheel locks,” Snider said. “Devices that lock the steering wheel or brake pedal provide a high degree of safety for a vehicle. Although no system is impenetrable, thieves look for the ‘path of least resistance.’ In crowded parking facilities, it's more prudent for a thief to find an unprotected car than defeat a security device. Paying thousands to buy a car and nothing to protect it doesn't make good car sense.”

Police remind the public that car theft is most often a crime of opportunity and that a car is stolen somewhere in the United States every 20 seconds. Thieves are drawn to vehicles that appear easy to break into or easy to steal.

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