After a rash of vehicle break-ins in College Corner over the weekend, the perpetrators were caught using local residents’ and business’ security cameras.  While the thiefs were quickly discovered, and many of the stolen belongings found or returned, it has left an unsettling feeling in the hearts of many residents.  If you've ever experienced a car break-in, you know the sinking feeling of returning to your vehicle and finding its doors open and the contents strewn across the seats -- or finding your car missing entirely. This happens more often than you might think: More than 810,000 motor vehicles were reported stolen in the US in 2020, according to the FBI -- the highest number since 2008. The number of people who were victims of the theft of valuables inside their cars is harder to measure since it's often underreported -- but it's likely far more common than car theft.

Property crimes are often crimes of opportunity.  In a perfect world, people would not see opportunity in your personal possessions, but sadly….we must protect our belongings. By taking a few simple steps, you can protect your car and the belongings inside it from theft. Here's how. (You can also check out our tips on where you should set up home security cameras on your property, and how to secure your home from burglaries.)

Keep your car doors locked and windows closed:  One of the simplest ways to protect your car is to lock the doors and close the windows anytime you aren't in the vehicle.

Open windows and unlocked doors can easily attract thieves, or give them opportunities to strike quickly and maintain a low profile. If would-be thieves can't quickly gain entry to your car, they'll often simply keep moving.

Home security cameras can be a great addition to your overall home security plan.  It could be because you've had porch pirates steal your packages, or because you want to keep an eye on your children when they are home alone.

If you have a video doorbell, Ring recommends mounting it 48 inches (4 ft.) above the ground. This allows you to capture the faces of would-be visitors, but also to see packages left near the door.  If you're using an outdoor security camera that's not a video doorbell to monitor your entrances, it should go above a window or a doorframe, facing downward to cover the area a few feet in front of the opening if you're looking to track deliveries.

Check your camera's range, too: you'll want as wide an angle as you can get for outdoors, and ideally a 1:1 aspect ratio, too.While it may seem like a no-brainer to make sure the footage your home security captures is recorded, many cameras simply don't have cloud storage or a storage chip, or SIM card, included with them. If you're using devices from Ring or Arlo, for instance, you'll need to purchase a $3/month subscription along with the camera to access their cloud storage. Some devices, like Wyze's cameras, have slots for SIM cards.

Make it look like someone is home:  Most burglars don't want to enter your home when you're there. They'd rather find an empty home and be in and out as quickly as possible. Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent intruders is to make it look like someone is home at all times.

Some communities have begun discussing Neighborhood Watch groups, similar to those that arose in the 1970’s.  Neighborhood Watch states:  “Our nation is built on the strength of our citizens. Every day, we encounter situations calling upon us to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement. Not only does neighborhood watch allow citizens to help in the fight against crime, it is also an opportunity for communities to bond through service. The Neighborhood Watch Program draws upon the compassion of average citizens, asking them to lend their neighbors a hand.”