Earlier in February, the Stuart Police Department shared some photos from video footage taken by a resident.

The photos showed individuals attempting to break into the resident’s vehicle, but leaving once they found it was locked. Stuart Police Sergeant Katie Guisinger says that thefts from vehicles are truly crimes of opportunity, and that thieves are looking for something that isn’t going to take a lot of effort. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio of a few ways to protect your vehicle from being broken into.

“I think the biggest safety tip for keeping your vehicle safe is probably one that everyone’s heard and we’ve mentioned it time and time again. But it really does make the biggest difference, and that’s simply to keep your vehicles locked and keep any valuables out of sight. Or just do not keep it overnight or when you’re parked in the vehicle like a purse, or a wallet, phone, anything that looks valuable. Just keep it out of sight, or just keep it with you.”

Sergeant Guisinger advises that having cameras or motion sensing lights on your property can also help deter thieves. She adds that just the presence of a camera, or a light turning on can be enough to make criminals decide that whatever is there, isn’t worth their time, or the risk of being seen.