ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – Altamonte Springs police department is working from now through the end of December to reduce car break-ins during the holiday season.
The annual initiative, Project Safe Car, aims to reduce car break-ins and thefts, which tend to increase during this time of year.
“These do happen year-round, but it’s an increase during the holidays. So that’s where we want to make the awareness and let people know to be more vigilant and also call us if they see something, say something,” Altamonte Springs Public Information Officer Deana DiPaola explained.
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Officers will be placing flyers on vehicles that appear to have valuables inside, warning of potential crimes of opportunity.
“What we do is we go out to our local businesses, and we put cards on cars that we find could have something in it, that a crime of opportunity could happen,” DiPaola said.
Thieves often target electronics, purses, wallets and shopping bags left in vehicles.
“Be mindful of the streetlights. Try to park your car where there are streetlights if it’s dark out. Be aware of your surroundings, but also your packages. If you’re not able to take them with you, put them in the trunk or conceal them under something,” DiPaola said.
Nick Fitzpatrick, who works at the Altamonte Springs Mall, has witnessed these crimes firsthand.
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“Unfortunately, a lot of times. Usually, my shifts and like at night, so I always park in the back here, and then we hear a lot of incidents happen,” he told News 6.
Fitzpatrick admits he sometimes forgets to lock his car, making the police reminders especially helpful.
“I always just assume that nothing will happen. But when you assume something is not going to happen, it sometimes happens. Unfortunately,” he said.
The department is also partnering with the mall during the holiday season and will have an increased police presence to ensure shoppers’ safety.
“Mall security is always out driving around. If someone misses their car, they don’t know where it is. You can reach out to them. They will find the vehicle, but we also partner in regard to that. So with these cards, you are going to see an increased presence with law enforcement driving around and putting these on cars, but also making sure everyone feels safe,” DiPaola said.
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