From Jonathan Bragg, Greenville Police Dept. Public Information Officer:
The Police Department recently launched a public education and awareness campaign called “Lock It Or Lose It” to address the ongoing issue of car break-ins. As part of the campaign, in the coming weeks, Traffic Engineering will be installing signs for us in neighborhoods around the city to remind and encourage residents to lock their vehicles and take their valuables inside with them when they get home.
In 2014, there were 496 car break-ins in the city of Greenville, and over 58% of those vehicles were unlocked. In 2013, there were 668 car break-ins, and over 40% of those vehicles were unlocked. It takes less than 30 seconds to break into a car, grab what’s in plain sight, check the usual hiding places for other items and get away. That time is cut in half if the car is unlocked. The good news is that you can avoid being a victim of a car break-in by locking your vehicle every time you leave it unattended, and taking your valuables with you.
Signs like the one here have been effective in other cities, and it is our hope that they will also be successful here.
