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It's the most wonderful time of the year - until your items get stolen from your car or doorstep. With the biggest shopping season of the year upon us, please consider the following tips that will help you avoid becoming a victim of theft.

PREVENT VEHICLE BURGLARIES:

Start today! Remind yourself and others when you leave the car to Lock, Take and Hide. Don’t leave valuables in your car, even for a short time. If you see a person displaying items in their car or leave without locking it, remind them to Lock your car, Take your keys and Hide your belongings!

Park your car in well-lit areas and lots that have security. Don't leave your windows rolled down or cracked as this only makes it easier to break in to. Try to park nearest to street or entrances so that your car is viewable to passersby. Do not display decals or signs that upgrades have been made to your car. If you're just not sure, always go with the safest most protected choice.

If you see any suspicious activity in a parking lot, call the police immediately. Most thieves will scout an area out and park closely if possible. They will constantly look around before attempting to break into a vehicle. They will often pull on many door handles to find one unlocked. Always call the police and never approach a suspicious person.

If you are a victim of an auto burglary, the first action should always be to call the police. You can take pictures of how the vehicle was left by the thief, but do not touch anything in case there are fingerprints. Try to see if you can establish what was stolen by viewing through windows and estimate a total cost of stolen items.

PREVENT PACKAGE THEFTS:

If you are having your purchases shipped to your house, sign up for delivery alerts from the shipper. If you aren't home during delivery, designate an area for packages that is hidden from the street or ask a friend or neighbor to take the package back to their place until you get home.

If possible, require a signature for all your deliveries. If there's no one home to sign for the package, it won't be left at your home.

Be neighborly. If you see a package sitting on a neighbor's doorstep, reach out and ask if they would like you to hold it until they are home
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Keep your car and house doors locked at all times.

We hope you find these tips useful. Happy Holidays from the Lewisville Police Department!