Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Joshua Lucero: Staff illustration Local law enforcement agencies are urging residents to keep valuables and gifts out of sight while they perform their holiday shopping this Christmas season. Hiding valuables and locking doors help to limit the opportunities thieves have to steal from vehicles and homes.
link Joshua Lucero: Staff illustration
Local law enforcement agencies are urging residents to keep valuables and gifts out of sight while they perform their holiday shopping this Christmas season. Hiding valuables and locking doors help to limit the opportunities thieves have to steal from vehicles and homes.
The holiday season is here and police are reminding area residents to be aware of holiday thieves.
Portales Police Department Detective Charlie Smart said the December shopping season usually sees an increase in theft in the area.
Smart said thefts often occur in vehicles that have valuable items visible through windows.
“My best advice is to keep valuables secure in the trunk while you’re out shopping,” Smart said.
He said storing anything in a vehicle overnight is not recommended. Valuables should be secured in the home whenever possible.
A public service announcement from the Clovis Police Department said shoppers should be aware of their surroundings while they are making their holiday purchases.
The announcement said thieves often look for crimes of opportunity and will check doors on homes and vehicles for an easy way in.
Doors, windows, and any other entrances into homes should be checked and secured before leaving the house or going to bed, police say.
Smart said social media can attract burglars and warns that holiday travel plans should not be posted.
“Don’t announce that you’re leaving town over Facebook,” Smart said.
Smart said announcing travel plans on social media lets thieves know when a house is vacant and makes it more likely to be robbed in the occupants’ absence.
He suggests residents talk with neighbors to help keep watch over each other’s homes during the holidays to prevent burglaries.
Smart said buying timers to turn lights on and off in homes can help deter criminals.
He said setting the timers to turn on lights at different times and rooms can give the illusion that the occupants are home.
Residents should call in any suspicious activity to the police to help prevent holiday theft, according to the CPD announcement.
Smart said the police will be performing close patrols of neighborhoods to help deter crime over the holidays.
