Police issue warning to holiday shoppers

CALGARY- The holiday shopping frenzy is now well underway and Calgary police are reminding shoppers thieves are busy at this time of year as well.

Police are warning Calgarians to protect their purchases by locking car doors and not leaving their vehicles running in shopping mall parking lots.

And police say Calgarians that holiday grinches can come away with much more than just your holiday haul. They warn if thieves gain access to your vehicle, they can often get hold of your address and possibly a garage door opener.

“The message is, you have to take care of your property,” says Constable Walter Kachmar, a community resource officer with the Calgary Police Service. “The police are out here patrolling. You’re going to see an increased presence this year in the shopping areas and major roadways but we can’t be everywhere all the time so we need people to take that under their own wing and take that responsibility themselves.”