Citizens Reminded to Lock Vehicles after Series of Vehicle Break-Ins

OCEAN CITY, MD – : The Ocean City Police Department is reminding residents and visitors to lock their vehicles after a series of vehicle break-ins throughout the resort. Since January 1, there have been 11 reported thefts from vehicles, most occurring in the area of 94^th Street through 120^th Street in the late night and early morning hours. All of the vehicles involved were left unlocked at the time of the incident.

Residents and visitors are reminded to always lock their vehicles and double-check that it is in fact locked. Often times, criminals will try vehicle doors until they find one that is unlocked. Citizens should also take the following steps to avoid becoming a victim:

• Never leave valuables in a vehicle. If items are left in plain sight inside a vehicle, the chances of a vehicle break-in increase dramatically. This includes purses, electronics, loose change, etc.
• Place items out of sight before reaching your destination. Criminals may be watching while you hide valuables under a seat or in the trunk.
• Leave no trace of valuables in plain view. For example, remove items like suction cups used to hold GPS systems or phone chargers.
• Ensure that alarms and anti-theft devices are working. These will act as deterrents and could decrease your chances of becoming a victim.
• Never leave keys in your vehicle. Even if well hidden, an experienced criminal knows the best hiding places.

Citizens that believe they may be a victim of a vehicle break-in should call local police immediately and avoid rummaging through the vehicle prior to the arrival of police.