It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Unless you have your would-be Christmas shopping taken from your vehicle.
Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP are reminding citizens to take precautions from potential thieves while out Christmas shopping.
“This time of the year, we have individuals, thieves, who target people who fill up their vehicles with their purchases,” said local RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk.
Police recommend the old adage of out of sight, out of mind.
“We recommend that you take all of your bags, parcels and presents and put them in the trunk,” said Molendyk. “Or load up your vehicle, go home, unload and then return to shopping.”
Leaving beautifully wrapped presents or shopping bags on the front seat is simply an invitation for somebody to come by, smash out a window and rip it off.
“We don’t want that,” said Molendyk. “We want people to have a good, safe Christmas and not have it spoiled by thieves.”
Don’t display any packages in the car day or night, said Molendyk, as thieves will patrol parking lots in the daytime as well as at night.
