What Do Grizzly Bears, Car Burglars and Holiday Gift Shopping Have in Common?
Apparently quite a bit, according to Officer Roger D. Martin of the
Beachwood Police Department in Ohio. Cautiously, he explains …
"Two men are hiking in the woods. Completely by accident, they stumble upon a big ol' grizzly bear. Upon seeing the two men, the grizzly bear stands on its hind legs, emits a low, threatening growl, and prepares to attack. One of the men responds by pausing, removing his backpack, and reaching inside it for his tennis shoes. As he begins taking off his hiking boots to put them on, the other man asks in surprise, 'Why are you putting those on? You can’t outrun the bear.' To this, the first man responds, 'No. But I can outrun you.'"
Car burglary is a crime of opportunity
During the holidays, many communities experience a rise in car burglaries, auto theft and other crimes, especially in mall parking lots. When the economy is in a slump, the increase in crime is more dramatic.
Now picture your unlocked, unattended car filled with holiday gifts, sitting in a dark mall parking lot next to several locked, empty cars. Some of them have car alarms or other anti-theft devices. Which automobile do you think the car burglar will choose?
Just as bears chase the target requiring the least amount of effort to catch, car burglars and car thieves usually attack the easiest prey in their path. They prefer the car that is simple to open unnoticed, and contains valuables that can be stolen and concealed quickly.
The fact is, car burglary and car theft are almost always crimes of opportunity.
Don’t invite car burglary
“Target hardening” is what Officer Martin calls it. Others might refer to it as crime prevention, or even common sense.
No one should steal something from your car under any circumstances. However, car burglaries and other crimes do occur. As Martin explains, that doesn’t mean you have to be an easy target.
“You can never totally prevent crime from happening. If someone really wants to steal your car or take your GPS system and other personal items, they will do it,” continues Martin. “Your first concern should always be for your personal safety. Above and beyond that, you can help prevent crimes of opportunity like these by making it more difficult to commit them.”
In a nutshell, target hardening is exactly what it sounds like: using the circumstances within your control to make it “harder” for a criminal to “target” you. Whether it’s installing a car alarm or car safety equipment, choosing a well-lit space in the mall parking lot or emptying your car of valuables before doing your holiday gift shopping, there are plenty of easy steps you can take to discourage a car burglar and promote car safety.
Car safety tips from Nationwide
Follow these important holiday shopping safety tips to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of a car burglary or other crimes of opportunity this holiday shopping season.
Officer Roger D. Martin has been a patrolman for the Beachwood, Ohio, police department for 15 years. Martin is a member of the Ohio Crime Prevention Association, and is highly involved in community outreach programs that educate city residents about crime prevention and personal safety.
