Springfield police are reminding you not to let thieves target your car

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – As the holiday shopping season begins on Black Friday, parking lots will be filled with more cars and become potential targets for would-be thieves.

For many, these early shopping offers are hard to resist. Even if you want to have a wonderful holiday season, discovering that your car has been broken into while you’re searching for the perfect gift could dampen your holiday spirit.

But there are a few things you can do to keep the scammers at bay.

“If you’re ready to go to the store, be sure to take everything with you,” said Cris Swaters, public affairs officer for the Springfield Police Department. “Do not leave bags, wallets, iPads or anything similar in the car unless it is very well hidden in the trunk. And when you return to your car with your treasures from the store, make sure they fit in a trunk or are well hidden.”

Some of Springfield’s holiday shoppers told KY3 News they think about it every time they go shopping, not just on Black Friday.

“Normally I would have, say, a dark cover over everything in the boot of my car,” said Simon Willoughby. “Looks like there’s nothing there to help hide it or keep it out of sight, just in case.”

“We usually make a point of locking everything up and making sure everything is secured and the packages are out of sight. So we don’t usually worry or have a lot of problems,” Dana Partaker said. “We’re even thinking about it on non-Black Friday.”

Springfield Police also recommend parking closer to the store, in well-lit areas and, if possible, near areas where security cameras are installed.

“The more you can do in advance to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of this crime, the less likely you are to become a victim of a property crime,” Swaters said.

Swaters also said that if you find out your car has been broken into, you should call the police and file a report.

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