GREENSBORO, N.C. — Car break-ins have popped up all over the Triad this week, hitting all corners of the area. Greensboro police have reported its own rash of car break-ins.
“We’ve had a lot of smash and grabs as well,” Greensboro Police Community Resource Officer Sam Alvarez said. “A lot of those are happening late at night when people are sleeping as well, and apartments complex as well.”
Greensboro police said every year during the holidays, officers notice more people breaking into cars. While hiding Christmas presents in the back seat might seem safe, police urge against it because thieves are familiar with that tactic.
On top of that, there are several other items to avoid leaving in your car, including money, credit cards, phones, or other valuables. Not only do thieves target neighborhoods, but police also said their biggest targets are hotels and shopping center parking lots.
“Visitors that come into the city and they stay at hotels, they also forget to, you know, lock their cars and I’m sure that these hotel companies or hotel managers make it a point for their guests to lock their cars, but that’s also the trend that we’ve seen,” Alvarez said.
In the past two months, city-wide GPD has received more than 400 reports of car break-ins.
“It’s any store, pretty much—it can happen anywhere. People have to be mindful and just be aware of your surroundings where you park,” Alvarez said. “If it’s late at night, park under lights where it’s well lit.”
District 3 stretches from I-40 just east of Colfax to Creek Ridge Road, south of downtown Greensboro. Officer Alvarez said that with numerous hotels and shopping centers in the area, it becomes a target for thieves.
“They’ll just start checking on doors, which is obviously easier for a thief to get into, rather than smashing a window because then the alarm will go off, or lights start, you know, going off on a car and it attracts attention to other people in the parking lot,” Alvarez said.
Police remind residents to always secure their cars. When you lock it, listen for the beep to ensure it’s locked. Even though more car break-ins are expected this time of year, Larceny From Motor Vehicles are down by seven percent compared to last year.
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