Take It, Hide It, Lock It or Lose It on Black Friday

It’s time to lock up, Fredericksburg. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is beginning the Take It, Hide It, Lock It or Lose It Campaign to reduce thefts from unlocked vehicles.

The campaign asks residents in the Stafford area to either take valuables out of their cars or hide them in the vehicle before locking the doors. Leaving doors unlocked and valuables in the car puts you at risk for thefts, according to Stafford County police.

Last week, nine unlocked cars were broken into and one was stolen in the Fredericksburg area. The thief or thieves took DvDs, cash and other valuables from the vehicles.

Police say thieves who steal from unlocked cars refer to it as “shopping.” They go from car to car, stealing from unlocked vehicles and often hitting multiple neighborhoods a night.

“I am confident that if we all take a few extra minutes and lock our vehicles after hiding or removing our valuables we will go a long way in reducing thefts from autos,” states Sheriff Charles Jett.

With Black Friday on our heels, Stafford County police urge residents to take special care to lock their cars if they plan on leaving gifts inside.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office will be distributing pamphlets and setting up message boards and signs to remind citizens to Take It, Hide It, Lock It or Lose It.

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