TIMMINS -- It's the holiday shopping season, and police are again reminding people to lock their vehicles.
Shopping mall parking lots are a prime location for theft, but so are residential streets and driveways.
And it sometimes happens even if owners do remember to lock their vehicles.
Holly Tambeau, of Timmins, says she and her fiancé always keep their possessions tucked away and their vehicles locked at night.
But that apparently didn’t stop someone from getting into both of their cars and taking everything of value.
"It’s extra alarming that they’re going to these lengths to get into vehicles. They got some valuables out of my fiancé’s vehicle last night. Other than locking our vehicles, we don’t know what else there is to do to keep our things safe," said Tambeau.
She figures whoever broke in must have used a special device to do so.
Timmins police say some thieves use technology that can tamper with the radio signal from key fobs to open cars, but they say they’re not aware of that happening in the Timmins area.
"In terms of overall statistical results, the ability to be mindful of the fact that you should lock your doors at all times and keep valuable items out of sight, this tends to lead to a lessened opportunity for you to become a victim of crime," said Depatie, community liaison officer for Timmins Police Service.
Depatie says anyone determined enough to steal will find a way, but that locking your doors will at least keep away less sophisticated criminals.
It’s something Justin Savard says you can never be too careful about, as he recently had his vehicle broken into for a second time
"It was just a quick car shuffle and I locked it, through the keys in the jeans, and I left it at that. (I) didn’t think any more of it. Unfortunately, I’ll have to triple check, if not more," sad Savard.
Both Savard and Tambeau say they’ll have to keep a closer eye on their vehicles from now on, but they also feel more police patrols in residential areas would help them feel more secure.
