Lock It or Lose It

Saturday, 29 November 2014 at 08:14

The annual Lock it or Lose it campaign advise residents not to keep personal information in the car.

WOODSTOCK - It's less than a month until Christmas, and shopping for gifts is (hopefully) well under way for most store-goers. With all of the lists, bags and tags, it's easy to forget something as simple as locking your car door before you head into the next store. Unfortunately, that is a mistake that could cost you.

The annual Lock it or Lose it campaign kicks into high gear for the holiday season, with police urging motorists to ensure their vehicle is safe when leaving it. While gifts, electronics and money seem like the most likely targets, Woodstock Police Constable Steve McEwen says ownerships and any personal documents can be targeted for the purposes of identity theft. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) says in 2013 cases of identity theft and identity fraud increased 6%, something they note is a cause for concern.

Rick Dubin, Vice-President of Investigative services for the IBC urges motorists to keep personal documents out of vehicles. Things like vehicle ownerships, liability pink slips, credit card invoices or any other information contained in personal documents, can be obtained by thieves looking to secure credit cards and even take or mortages on properties without knowledge.

"Leaving vehicles unlocked or valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves to steal your valuables. Our police service wants people to take the time to keep their property safe," said Constable McEwen. "Thieves are also looking for anything in a vehicle that allows them to engage in identify theft. Don't give them the opportunity. Keep anything with your personal information with you."

During the campaign, Woodstock police perform routine checks of parked vehicles to ensure the safety of owners. They place cards on windshields to indicate if adequate safety procedures are being followed, and offer tips on how to prevent becoming a victim of theft.