Malls are a busy place for shoppers as the holiday season draws nears. But thieves are also at work, and consumers must be wary.
Don't leave valuables in cars, according to a Safer Parking Initiative in Vancouver. But the same advice should be considered while shopping in Port Coquitlam, Port Moody or Coquitlam.
Your car can get broken into in less than a minute, so a quick stop at the store gives thieves ample time to make their move," says Colin Brown, chief operating officer of Canadian Direct Insurance and sponsor of the Safer Parking Initiative. "Items that are often stolen include GPS units, sunglasses, gym bags, purses, backpacks, tools and toolboxes, garage door remotes, smartphones, laptops, tablets, and loose coins and change."
The Vancouver Police Department and Canadian Direct Insurance are encouraging shoppers to choose parking facilities with the Safer Parking Award, which identifies parking facilities whose managers and owners have taken extra steps to ensure a safer environment for customers. Many Safer Parking Award facilities report zero crime occurrences on a monthly basis, and the Safer Parking Initiative has helped reduce crime by an average of 47% in awarded Vancouver parkades.
Since the program's inception, the Safer Parking Initiative has grown from 5 lots to 55 in the City of Vancouver with many more lots being coached to become eligible for the designation. The initiative has gained the support and participation of major parking lot owners and managers in the city. The VPD has found the Safer Parking Initiative to be successful enough to expand it city-wide by having officers from each patrol district trained.
Theft-from-auto incidents in Vancouver have significantly declined over the last decade. However, thousands of these crimes still occur each year.
SAFER HOLIDAY SHOPPING PARKING TIPS FROM CANADIAN DIRECT INSURANCE
