A recent jump in the number of incidents of property crimes (specifically burglaries of vehicles) in McKinney has Police Officers encouraging residents to take steps to prevent theft. Over the past 30 days, approximately 140 incidents of property stolen from vehicles have been reported. Trends do not target a specific neighborhood, location, or even time of day, but the common thread is an opportunity for a thief to commit the crime.
Cars parked in the same place for an extended period of time, like at a movie theater or gym, are at greater risk for theft. Would-be-criminals understand that vehicle owners will be away from their property for an extended period of time, which creates opportunity to commit property crimes. Homes with rear-entry garages and residential neighborhoods with alleyways also see higher levels of burglarized vehicles. Police always encourage residents to park in garages whenever possible.
“Thieves are targeting any parked car, no matter where it is parked or the time of day. Most of the time preventing this kind of theft can be as easy as locking your car doors and hiding valuables. We are working hard to educate McKinney residents to take a simple three-step approach to prevention – Lock, Take, and Hide,” said Chief Doug Kowalski.
The Lock, Take, and Hide program is a popular way to educate the public on measures to avoid being a victim of theft. By simply locking car doors, taking your keys, and hiding valuables out of sight or in the trunk, thieves can be deterred. In the coming weeks, McKinney residents will see outdoor electronic signs, posters, and Public Service Announcements with the Lock, Take, and Hide message. Residents will also get a phone call with a prerecorded message promoting this initiative courtesy of the Collin County Code Red phone system and the McKinney Independent School District (MISD) phone messaging system. This collaborate effort, also including the Citizens on Patrol of the McKinney Police Department (MPD), will ensure that our community will be aware of the need to protect their property.
“McKinney is still a safe place to live. We are not experiencing violent crimes against people, but rather an increase in property crimes, which is not out of character for the economic conditions. We are doing what we can as a police department to prevent theft and educating our residents on what they can do, as well,” said Assistant Chief Rex Redden.
Both Police and citizen involvement is crucial to successfully fighting crime. Two important steps are starting an active Neighborhood Watch Program and always contacting police when you view any suspicious activity to include unknown persons or vehicles in your neighborhood. Both can go a long way in preventing future theft. Call 9-1-1 or the non-emergency service line at 972-547-2700 to report a crime.
Items stolen include golf clubs, wallets and purses, electronics like iPods and laptops, items on dashboards like GPS systems and satellite radio devices, guns, and even prescription medication.
Please visit www.mckinneypolice.org to view a copy of this media release and the Police Incident Bulletin. The Police Incident Bulletin allows for easy access to accurate information concerning police reports taken by the men and women of the MPD.
