UPD Issues Holiday Shopping Season Safety Tips

Utica, NY (WIBX) - Utica police are cautioning the public about an increase in criminal activity heading into the holiday shopping season.  Officials say many of these incidents are crimes of opportunity that can be avoided.

They issued the following precautions to avoid being a victim of a crime:

• When parking your vehicle away from home, always try to park in a highly conspicuous area. If it is at night, try to find an area that is well lit.

• Do not leave anything inviting in plain view inside of your vehicle. This includes GPS units, purses, jewelry, money, power cords, etc. Thieves who are targeting vehicles to break into are looking for these items. If there are no appealing items left out inside your vehicle, there is a much lower likelihood that you will be targeted. Purses, wallets and items of high value should not be left unattended in a vehicle if it can be avoided.

• Locking your door does not protect you when leaving valuable items in plain view. Vehicle windows are easily smashed out and will be if a thief notices a valuable item in your locked vehicle. That being said, a locked vehicle with no items left in view is the best protection.

• Many of these incidents occur during the overnight hours in driveways. Having a properly functioning motion detector light covering the area where your vehicle is parked is an inexpensive and easy way to deter anyone from approaching your vehicle.

The officials say property theft from cars have been taking place throughout the city at an alarming rate, and expect these types of crimes to increase as the holiday season nears.