Advise residents to “Lock It, Hide It, Keep It” to prevent theft.

LOS ANGELES – As the holiday shopping season gets underway, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield was joined today by representatives from the LAPD Topanga Division along with members of the San Fernando Valley’s business community to inform residents and shoppers about steps they can take to keep themselves and their belongings safe this holiday season.

In the San Fernando Valley last year there were 9,681 burglary from motor vehicles. You can minimize your chances of being a victim by limiting the criminal’s opportunities.

“The holiday shopping season is a great economic generator that many small businesses look forward to, but it can also be a magnet for crime,” said Blumenfield. “The easiest way to avoid becoming a victim is to take the opportunity away from the criminal.”

“Our biggest problem during the holiday season is people leaving things in plain sight,“ said Captain Joel Justice. “Last year, just in the holiday season, we had 76 crimes in and around the Topanga Mall. That’s more than two incidents every day. We know that many of those crimes were preventable.”

The LAPD’s ongoing “Lock it, Hide it, Keep it” campaign was started in 2010 in the San Fernando Valley and has since been implemented Citywide and replicated by law enforcement agencies across the country.

Safety tips for the holiday shopping season include:

• Park your vehicle in well lit areas. Preferably where there is a high volume of pedestrian traffic.
• Turn your wheels sharply to one side to prevent your vehicle from being towed by a thief.
• Lock your car even if you are going for a quick stop at a local convenience store or mini mall.
• Do not leave anything inside your car, place valuables in the trunk or your car or leave the items at home.
• When returning to your vehicle from making purchases, drive away and park at another location if you are planning on resuming shopping at the same shopping center. Do not leave your purchased items inside the car and return to the store. Thieves may be watching you and wanting your valuables.

LAPD demonstrated the speed with which a thief can separate shoppers from their belongings.