Christmas shoppers warned about smash and grabs

CALGARY- Five seconds. That’s all the time it takes for a thief to break into your car—a problem police see often during the busy Christmas shopping season.

On Wednesday, police demonstrated how easily crooks can smash a vehicle’s window and grab whatever they see lying around in the vehicles. They say prevention is key.

“What people can do to lessen their chance of becoming a victim is that ‘out of sight, out of mind’ practice,” explains Constable Tom Page. “That’s what we are really advocating this time of year.”

Thieves can sometimes be triggered by the sight of even little things like loose change or a camera. Page suggests hiding presents that are in the back seat with a blanket, or putting them in the trunk. If you have a number of them, make sure your vehicle is in a visible area, or try to move it frequently.

“A lot of times it is a very preventable crime, yet people still seem to be in too much of a hurry to do the little things to make it right.”