Don't Leave Your Stuff Vulnerable to Thefts

No one wants to be the victim of theft, but unfortunately, thieves are taking advantage of the warm weather to target vehicles and unoccupied homes. Based on recent theft reports from the Fenton precinct of the St. Louis County Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, here are some quick tips to help keep your stuff protected:

1. Don’t forget to secure your home when you leave. While some thieves will go through the effort of forcing entry into a house, an unlocked side door or exposed window screen makes their job much easier.

2. Make sure your car is locked in parking lots and overnight—even when you’re running into the gas station. Store any valuables (including keys!) out of sight so a thief isn’t tempted to break open the window.

3. Heading to the gym? Make sure that your locker is secured with a lock. But beware: don’t bring valuables into the locker room, when possible. Even a secure locker can be tampered with.

4. Schedule a vacation check (available through St. Louis County Police Department) if you’ll be away for more than a few days.

5. Don’t leave purses unattended, even at a "secure" place, like a birthday party.

If you are a victim of theft, report it immediately—especially if credit and debit, or other identification cards are missing. You don’t want someone else shopping local on your dime.