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Clearwater Police Offer Warning About Car Burglaries

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TBO.com

Published: July 29, 2008

Clearwater police say there has been an increase in vehicle burglaries lately and are asking car owners to be on alert.

In July, 51 car burglaries were reported, public safety spokeswoman Elizabeth Daly-Watts said.

Daly-Watts said most vehicle burglaries are a crime of opportunity.

"An unlocked car is an open invitation to a car thief," she said.

Many of vehicles with reported burglaries were unlocked. Some had windows smashed because something of value such as an iPod or camera was left in plain sight.

The majority of these burglaries occurred at night or in the early morning in front of a residence, Daly-Watts said.

GPS units are a hot item these days among thieves, police said. Officers recommend removing them from cars and taking down their suction mounts because they indicate a GPS unit may be inside.

Clearwater police offer these tips:

*Always lock your vehicle.

*Clean your car out, and don't leave valuables in plain sight.

*Park carefully in well-lighted areas.

*Use anti-theft devices.

*Report suspicious activity to police.

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