Nah, Think I'll Leave My Laptop on the Passenger Seat Tonight

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Mar. 10 2008 at 4:04 PM

Categories: Crime

After the jump, an e-mail from Sergeant Walter Clifton of the DPD's Central Patrol Division concerning a rash of car break-ins 'round the Lower Greenville area -- and, hey, just in time for the St. Patrick's Day Parade this weekend. Though, spoiler alert, this opening paragraph may provide some clues as to what's leading to all that broken glass:

Almost without exception the owners of these vehicles are leaving expensive tools and equipment inside the cars and possibly in plain view. Some have left checkbooks, tool boxes and even laptops inside their cars.

Which leads us to such phrases as "shopping spree" and "candy store." And helpful tips: "Park in the garage if possible." --Robert Wilonsky

Greetings All,

Just a note to all concerning the Burglaries of Vehicles taking place in our area. Almost without exception the owners of these vehicles are leaving expensive tools and equipment inside the cars and possibly in plain view. Some have left checkbooks, tool boxes and even laptops inside their cars.

This has become a shopping spree of sorts for the criminals because some of the residents have opened a candy store for them.

Please urge them not to leave any property in their vehicles including the charge cords that are left hanging out of the 12 volt outlets, don't leave suction cup mounts on the windshields for radar detectors or gps devices. Take everything out or either hide it in the trunk. Park in the garage if possible. Avoid parking on the street if you can. If you park in the driveway, park as far into the drive as you can.

We have officers that work diligently to find and arrest these offenders, but unfortunately as soon as they get one group off the street another appears. If we work to take away the candy store we will have far fewer offenses and far less loss of property. Once the criminals discover there is little to gain in these neighborhoods and the chances they take for arrest, they will go somewhere else.

Thanks,

Sergeant Walter Clifton
Central Patrol Division
Dallas Police Department