Over the past few days we have had several car break-ins throughout the City of Hoover.  In over 70% of the cases the victim had either left their vehicle unlocked or a window rolled down so the criminal didn’t have to use force to get in.  Here is a list of what the criminals stole:  iPhone, wallets, credit cards, debit cards, a set of golf clubs, rings, watches, sunglasses, cash, GPS devices, purses, CD’s, Home connect electronics, an MP3 player, Wii console and games, laptop computer, power inverter, Sprint mobile hot spot, and a vehicle owner’s manual.  
 
     The car break-ins occurred on the following streets:  Al Seier Circle, Cedarbrook Drive, Deer Valley Drive, Freestone Ridge Cove, James Hill Circle, Milners Crescent, Ross Park Avenue, Ross Park Drive, and South Run Circle.  
 
     Please inform your family and friends that the best way to prevent a car break-in is by removing any items of value, or items that appear they have value, from their vehicle.  If someone insists on leaving valuables in the vehicle encourage them to at least secure the items in a locking compartment or the trunk.  If they won’t do that they should at least hide their property so that no one looking inside the vehicle can see the valuables.  
 
     A second precaution is to a make sure family and friends lock their doors and roll up their windows.  Some criminals prefer to target unlocked vehicles when they are in a residential area so that they can get inside without breaking glass or activating alarm systems.  Don’t make it easy for them!  
 
     A third precaution is to record the make, model, and serial number of any valuables that you routinely carry in your vehicle, such as a GPS device.  That way you will have what we need to properly enter the item as stolen in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), a nationwide database maintained by the F.B.I.  Here is a link to an Operation Identification form you can print out:  
http://www.hooverpd.com/ftpupload/upload/operationid.pdf
 
     We want to help you, your family, and friends avoid being victims of this crime.  To reach that goal we have a detailed handout you can print for your family and friends to read.  A Hoover Police Car Theft and Break-in Prevention guide is available at this link:  http://www.hooverpd.com/ftpupload/upload/motorvehicle.pdf    If you have any questions please contact our Crime Prevention Specialist, Officer Brian Foreman at (205) 739-6870.  Thank you.