Keep valuables in cars out of sight

posted by Michael Hanson

As many people go shopping this time of year, consumers should keep in mind that they should keep valuables and purchases stored in cars hidden from the prying eyes of thieves.

A recent story from Ohio's Columbus Dispatch notes that thefts from automobiles are up this year. Citing statistics from the Columbus Police Department, thefts are up by 23 percent when compared to a year ago. So far, the department has reported 17,727 thefts from vehicles for 2009.

"We are aware that there's been a big increase this year," police spokesman Rich Weiner told the Dispatch.

There are, however things people can do to protect themselves. For example, people should try and park cars in well-lit areas, and should keep valuables out of sight. If valuables are kept in view, they may entice thief to break into a car.

People also need to make sure they have the right kind of insurance coverage. For example, many people do not know that thefts from cars are generally covered by a person's home insurance policy, rather than their auto insurance.