The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to lock their cars when unattended. By taking this simple step, you may prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a burglary and theft.
Over the past week, the Sheriff’s Office has responded to several (approximately 18) vehicle burglaries where unlocked cars were entered and items were taken. Patrol deputies took the initial reports and began investigations. The cases were later referred to the Criminal Investigation Division for follow-up.
Detectives have been able to identify the juvenile suspects and are working to close these cases; however awareness, vigilance and action by the community can help prevent further occurrences.
Since most vehicle burglaries are crimes of opportunity, we ask that you keep these simple tips in mind.
1. Lock your car when unattended
2. Do not display valuables in plain sight even if the vehicle is locked
3. Report suspicious activity immediately to local law enforcement
4. If you are the victim of a crime, modern forensic science can often identify the perpetrator if the scene is not disturbed
