Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Last week, the Monticello Police Department (MPD) responded to a call in the northeast side of town, regarding a breaking and entering.
According to Police Chief Fred Mosley, the call originated from a resident whose vehicle had been broken into. Chief Mosley adds that the vehicle owner's belongings were no longer inside the vehicle, leading the owner to believe they had been stolen during the break-in.
Due to it being an active case, Chief Mosley was unable to release details of the break-in and stolen object, but did wish to warn city residents of the need for locking their vehicle doors.
“Please lock your vehicles,” said Chief Mosley. “We do not want to give criminals any opportunity to commit a crime.”
Whenever you step away from your vehicle, Chief Mosley advises to lock the doors.
In addition, Mosley suggests that no valuables, firearms or other thief-attracting items should be left in your vehicle for a prolonged time.
Additional tips for preventing vehicular break-ins:
• Make sure your windows are rolled all the way up. When you lock your vehicle doors, check your windows as well
• Don't leave your car running if you step away from it. Even if you are stepping away just for a second, turn your vehicle off and take your keys with you. It is also illegal in the State of Florida (and 29 other states) to leave your car running and unattended
• Park in well-lit, viable areas. Thieves are less likely to break into your vehicle if it is parked in an area where a passerby can see what is going on. If your yard or driveway is dark and obscured, think about investing in motion-sensing lights. If you park in a parking lot or street, try to position your vehicle in an area where others can see your vehicle – such as near a streetlight
• It is better to not keep valuables in your vehicle (as Chief Mosley suggests), but if you must temporarily carry something of value in your car, be sure to hide it should you step away from your vehicle. If you must leave something important in your car, put it in your trunk or glovebox before you reach your destination. Experienced thieves have been known to stake out parking lots, looking for drivers moving things to their car trunk, and then break into the trunk
• Some vehicles come equipped with an anti-theft system, but if your vehicle's system is malfunctioning, broken or nonexistent, it may be something worth investing into in order to protect your vehicle from break-ins
Have you witnessed a recent suspicious activity around a vehicle or been the victim of a possible vehicle break-in within city limits?
Contact the Monticello Police Department at (850) 342-0150.
If you live in the county, contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at (850) 997-2523.
As always, you can report a crime in-progress by calling 9-1-1.