BEAUMONT, Texas — While holiday shopping can be exciting it's important to protect your valuables in your vehicles so they don't get stolen.
Beaumont Police Officer Haley Morrow says for shoppers to lock their vehicle doors because holiday criminals will just tug on a car door handle to see if its unlocked before stealing precious items.
That is the reason why the Beaumont Police Department is increasing patrol around Parkdale Mall, Target and the Dowlen corridor this season.
Holiday shopper, Alex Willis, said he travelled to Beaumont from Kountze to get some holiday deals.
"Picked up a new mattress, some Christmas presents from Best Buy. Oh, I got a new laptop and I got my niece a new cell phone," he said.
Willis took extra steps to protect his valuable in his car as he travelled to different shopping centers and he advises others to take the same steps.
"Well, always make sure to lock your vehicle when you get done. Keep everything out of site and cover it if you can. A lot of times put things under your seat if you got bench seating or something. Otherwise, really just try and park in view of cameras," he said.
Beaumont Police say Willis did the right thing as an out-of-town shopper.
"If you have the ability to go home and drop off your load of Christmas gifts before you keep going that's always a great option. We know that's not always feasible because some people do come from out of town to shop here in Beaumont," Morrow said.
Tis the season to be extra vigilant in shopping plaza parking lots.
"Criminals know that people are gonna be increasing their shopping as well," she said.
Don't leave valuables in plain sight.
"If you have the ability to conceal any items that you purchase under a blankets, or in hidden compartments in your vehicle, or kind of on the floorboards and cover them with something. That's a great idea. Try not to showcase all of that whenever you're opening your trunk and shutting it," Morrow said.
And while shopping inside, protect your purse and wallets.
"There is safety in numbers so the more people that are shopping the better. You know while one person is turned around looking at a shopping rack. The other person can still be keeping an eye on the buggy," she said.
If you're shopping at night police say bring a friend and ask the store's security for an escort to your car or can call Beaumont Police Department for an escort.
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