IMPD warns of car break-ins during the holiday shopping season

INDIANAPOLIS – Thousands of shoppers are flocking to Indianapolis stores, as are thieves. The police believe they may be targeting your car.

Leaving important items like your purse, packages, and papers out in the open can lead to more than just items being stolen.

According to police, 402 burglaries were reported throughout November – a decrease from 496 in November 2023.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says even though numbers are down this year, the danger is still real.

We looked into cars here at WRTV to see what we could find.

After engaging people with this story, one thing was proven: leaving things out can provide criminals with a lot of information.

We looked through the window of a vehicle and were able to identify the driver’s potential home and an area he had recently visited.

WRTV

“Over Christmas and into the New Year we tend to see an increase in vehicle break-ins,” said Tommy Thompson with IMPD. “We want to remind people to make sure they remove any personal items that may have personal information on them, such as receipts, mail and anything of that nature.”

Thompson says don’t leave valuables in your car and make sure it’s tidy.

“Make sure you park in well-lit areas and, if possible, have another person with you when you walk to your car,” Thompson said.

IMPD recommends always removing valuables from your car.

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