Police in Salt Lake City warn holiday shoppers not to leave valuables in automobiles

Salt Lake City, Utah – Ahead of Christmas, the Salt Lake City Police Department is warning residents not to leave valuables and holiday shopping items in their cars.

SLCPD spokesman Brent Weisberg stated, “You know, one of these car burglaries can take just a matter of seconds for someone and you could be out hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.”

Many people are still shopping because Christmas is just a few days away, but police encourage people to be mindful about what they put in their cars.

“These people are in a very bad situation because their holiday gifts and possessions were stolen,” Weisberg added.

A call regarding individuals investigating cars in the vicinity of 2700 S. Elizabeth Street was received by Salt Lake City Police on Sunday morning.

We got a call from a member of the neighborhood who said that his home’s exterior camera had detected motion and that he had received an alert on his phone. Two persons were driving through automobiles in his area when he activated his camera app, Weisberg claimed.

The department is now warning residents to reconsider leaving valuables in their cars.

Weisberg stated, “We want people to slow down during the holiday season to make sure that they’re moving all of their valuables out of their car, especially their holiday gifts.”

He advised customers to keep their cars “showroom ready.”

“That means keeping your car showroom clean, making sure that nothing is in your car, and removing GPS devices that might be hiding electronic cords,” Weisberg added.

Avoid leaving shopping bags in your car is another piece of advice.

According to Weisberg, “People can ask a store to hold their bags for them while they finish their shopping and then go and collect those bags when you’re all set and done.”

The secret to protecting your possessions is prevention.

“A lot of folks will be purchasing at the last minute. We want people to keep in mind that, even if it’s a natural part of the holiday season, you should never leave your baggage in your car while visiting a shopping mall,” Weisberg said.