'Lock it or lose it' campaign ramping up as holiday season approaches
As the holiday shopping season approaches, police are reminding the public how to prevent the theft of their property and vehicles.
Essex County OPP are promoting awareness with the 'lock it or lose it' initiative.
The campaign focuses on minimizing vehicle and property thefts by emphasizing the importance of securing belongings and not leaving valuables in plain sight.
“It'll come in spurts,” said Const. Steve Duguay. “We'll see certain areas get hit harder, more frequently and it all depends. It's a crime of opportunity really. Suspects will go to a vehicle and pull a car door. If it opens, then they'll take items from it. They're just looking for an opportunity to steal things.”
Police say certain times of year are worse than others for crime of opportunity.
“Well, this time of year, especially more important,” says Duguay. “We've been talking about vehicle thefts throughout the year. But this time of year, people are out shopping, buying Christmas gifts, buying, gift cards and you go put your purses in your vehicle at the mall or a different stores.”
Here are some tips from OPP:
- Never leave your vehicle unattended while it is running.
- Never leave your car keys in plain view or in an easily accessible area
- Never leave valuable objects or packages in full view. Put them in the trunk.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested on gun charges in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.
12-year-old boy charged in stabbing of 11-year-old boy at Edmonton McDonald's
The boy stabbed at a north Edmonton McDonald's last Friday is 11 years old.
What makes walking so great for your health and what else you need to do
Medical experts agree that walking is an easy way to improve physical and mental health, bolster fitness and prevent disease. While it’s not the only sort of exercise people should do, it’s a great first step toward a healthy life.
U.S. Congress hosts second round of UFO hearings
The U.S. government held another UFO hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the second such hearing in 16 months. This hearing was billed as an attempt by congress to provide a better understanding of what is known about previous sightings of UFOs, also known as UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena).
Toronto teenager charged with first-degree murder in Kitchener, Ont. homicide
A Toronto teen has been charged as part of an investigation into Kitchener, Ont.’s first homicide of 2024.
Spy service officer denies threatening Montreal man who was later imprisoned in Sudan
A Canadian Security Intelligence Service official has denied threatening a Montreal man who was later imprisoned and allegedly tortured by authorities in Sudan.
Donald Trump picks Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will nominate Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.
This Canadian airline will adopt Apple's new AirTag feature to help recover lost baggage. Here's how
Apple announced that a new feature, 'Share Item Location,' will help users locate and recover misplaced items by sharing an AirTag location with third parties including airlines.
Canada bracing for 'tough' talks as Trump's pick calls northern border an 'extreme vulnerability'
The Canadian government is aware it's likely in for 'tough conversations' with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's administration, after his border czar said there is 'an extreme national security vulnerability' he intends to tackle at the Canada-U.S. border.