According to police, there are close to 2 million such thefts each year, resulting in the loss of $1.255 billion in goods.
While locking your car seems like a no-brainer, up to a quarter of theft victims didn’t do it, police said.
It’s also worth keeping your ride tidy. Almost any personal item that's visible from the outside -- even something as worthless as an empty shopping bag -- could be seen as bait for thieves, police said.
They are advising folks to stow electronics and accessories out of sight, or, better yet, take them with them.
Shoppers should conceal bags and valuables in the trunk when they get back to their cars, and not after they stop at the next place, police said.
Only the most “brazen” of bad guys will chance being spotted in the act, so folks should park in busy, well-lighted, and highly visible areas, police said.
If the car is concealed by larger vehicles, fences or foliage, for instance, it becomes an easier target.
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