Your Car has a Lock - Use It!

While a junior high basketball game was under way November 19, somebody was playing their own game in the parking lot. Several people came back to their cars after the game to find purses and other person belongings missing.

Valuables were taken from at least ten cars, and guess what: none of them were locked, according to Public Infor- mation Officer Dian Ver Valen.

The Columbia County Sheriff's office issued a statement last week saying that numerous car prowls were reported Tuesday, most occurring near the gym. The statement also said that 37 car prowls have been reported in Dayton since September 1, including 20 in the past month. During the same period last year, only six vehicle prowls were reported.

Ver Valen said that in each of the 37 cases since Septem- ber, the cars were unlocked and no forced entry occurred.

"The best way to avoid being the victim of a vehicle prowl is to lock your doors," said Columbia County Undersheriff Richard Loyd. "Vehicle prowls are generally crimes of op- portunity. You'd be surprised at how often simple security measures deter criminals."

On Monday, Sheriff's Office spokesperson Dian Ver Valen told us that several additional car prowls have been reported since her earlier press release. Again, the cars were left un- locked. She also reported that around lunchtime on Friday, a car was stolen from the Dayton General Hospital. The car had been left unlocked with the keys in the ignition.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is offering several tips on how to avoid becoming the victim of a vehicle prowl:

Never leave your car unlocked, even if you are only going to be gone for a few minutes and certainly not overnight.

Don't leave valuables in your vehicle in plain view. Items such as purses, wallets, cell phones, laptop computers, MP3 players, even small amounts of change are targets for vehicle prowl. Make sure you take these items inside each evening, secure them in the trunk or glove box, or hide them so they are not readily seen from outside the vehicle.

Never leave a firearm in your vehicle. Always secure firearms in your residence each evening.

Park in a well-lit area at night, under a carport, or in your garage.

Report all suspicious persons or activity immediately, as it is happening, by dialing 911.

For more tips on how to avoid being the victim of a vehicle prowls, you can go to Columbia County's website at www.columbiaco.com and look for the sheriff's office under "De- partments." On the sheriff's office page, the information is under "Crime Watch."