A lot of it starts here, in the parking lot of retail stores where burglars have been targeting unlocked cars.
"Of our vehicle burglaries in the last reporting period, about 70 percent of those, there was no sign of forced entry," said Detective John Clark of Abilene Police Department.
Detective John Clark says the APD Bike Patrol is out looking for unlocked cars as well.
"If we see an unlocked car we lock it for the owner," said Rusty Antilley of Abilene Police Department.
Officers say they used to be surprised by how many people made themselves easy targets.
Antilley said, "People are doing Christmas shopping, and criminals are doing Christmas chopping also."
He said this is where some stolen credit cards, and checks come from.
"They leave wallets and purses inside cars and that's where those stolen credit cards come from and it becomes a fraud issue," said Antilley.
Store clerks should also look out for fake money because it has become problem.
"By far the most commonly counterfeited bill is the 20," Clark.
"What they are doing is buying a money order and changing the denomination on it from three dollars to three hundred dollars, said Clark.
These are just a few things to watch out for while you Christmas shop.
If you do remember leaving your car unlocked and come back to your car to find it locked you can thank the bike patrol.
"Of our vehicle burglaries in the last reporting period, about 70 percent of those, there was no sign of forced entry," said Detective John Clark of Abilene Police Department.
Detective John Clark says the APD Bike Patrol is out looking for unlocked cars as well.
"If we see an unlocked car we lock it for the owner," said Rusty Antilley of Abilene Police Department.
Officers say they used to be surprised by how many people made themselves easy targets.
Antilley said, "People are doing Christmas shopping, and criminals are doing Christmas chopping also."
He said this is where some stolen credit cards, and checks come from.
"They leave wallets and purses inside cars and that's where those stolen credit cards come from and it becomes a fraud issue," said Antilley.
Store clerks should also look out for fake money because it has become problem.
"By far the most commonly counterfeited bill is the 20," Clark.
"What they are doing is buying a money order and changing the denomination on it from three dollars to three hundred dollars, said Clark.
These are just a few things to watch out for while you Christmas shop.
If you do remember leaving your car unlocked and come back to your car to find it locked you can thank the bike patrol.
Comments
"If we see an unlocked car we lock it for the owner," said Rusty Antilley of Abilene Police Department.
Did it ever occur to them that maybe they left it unlocked intentionally? What if the locks broken? What if they left their keys in the car?
Did it ever occur to them that maybe they left it unlocked intentionally? What if the locks broken? What if they left their keys in the car?
kevin c.
December 15, 2011 at 5:03 am
