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Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) launched a new campaign today aimed at informing the public of burglary and theft from motor vehicles (BTFV and BFMV), and providing a few simple steps to keep from becoming victims of these crimes.
On Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at 2 p.m., Operations Valley Bureau kicked off the “Lock It, Hide It, Keep It” campaign from its Headquarters in Van Nuys Area. Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese provided statistics from the first six months of 2010 that clearly identified BTFV and BFMV as a problem in the San Fernando Valley. “The irony is that if folks would take a few extra seconds to properly store their belongings, this crime could be eliminated. There is no good reason to be the victim of a BTFV or BFMV,” Albanese said. The average cost of a BTFV to each victim is roughly $1885.00.
In the San Fernando Valley, 1 out of every 26 people is a victim of a Part 1 Property Crime. In February 2010, Chief Albanese recognized the high incidents of property crimes within Valley Bureau and established the Valley Crime Task Force (VCTF). One of the most effective components of the VCTF has been the Bait Car Unit. Video taken during actual Bait Car Sting Operations were shown at the news conference and can be viewed on the Department’s website at . The video was evidence that objects left in plain sight, in unlocked vehicles, are a crime of opportunity for many criminals.
The message is simple: • Lock It: Lock your vehicle every time you leave it unattended and always lock your valuables in the trunk. • Hide It: If you don’t have a trunk, hide valuables under the seats, in the glove box, or other compartments within the vehicle. • Keep It: Personal responsibility is the best prevention to safeguard personal property and to prevent becoming a victim.
The campaign will be rolled out in other areas of the LAPD over the next several months. Banners, billboards, celebrity endorsements, and public service announcements will also be included to remind the public that property crime prevention is largely dependant upon an individual’s willingness to take the necessary precautions.
For further information please contact Officer Tracy Andres at 818-644-8105.
