Story Created:
Dec 5, 2012 at 6:35 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Dec 5, 2012
The holidays are here which means there are lots of people out shopping.
But police say this is the time of year that thieves have an easier time stealing your brand new TV's and computers.
Parking lots are full as shoppers are searching for the perfect gifts.
And shoppers' vehicles may as well be Santa's sleighs.
some are packed with high priced merchandise.
a big mistake according to police.
“If you're buying a television computers cameras you don’t want to be riding around to various places with all those items in your car. the thieves are banking on you doing that.”
We asked investigator Joe Baeza to take a walk with us through this north laredo parking lot.
Right away he spots targets for thieves.
“They've got electronics. all kinds of boxes and the beauty is that they actually left the windows ajar.”
And a few seconds later..
“Here's a 32 inch TV this is what we want to avoid. enticement of a theft. this goes to the core of what we're talking about.”
“They're probably inside buying more expensive items.”
And he was right.
Minutes later, the owner of the vehicle was out with another TV to put in her SUV.
She didn’t want to comment but told us off camera she will remember the advice next time.
On the other side of the parking lot.
Lots of tools for the taking.
It doesn’t take long to spot the easy targets.
“That suburban is just crying out.”
Baeza says items stolen from vehicles will probably never been seen again.
So customers should drop off the items at home or the hotel before heading to another location and not be so careless with purchases.
And here's another thing to remember.
“Thieves also know that people have a lot of money to make these purchases. So always be aware of your surroundings.”
