The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office initiated the Lock it, Hide it, Keep it campaign this summer in an effort to minimize car burglaries in the area.

Sheriff Tony Mancuso has appeared on the KPLC-TV morning show and on local radio encouraging people to keep their vehicles secure. The Sheriff’s Office has also put the Lock it, Hide it, Keep it slogan on local electronic billboards.

Deputies are canvassing neighborhoods and parking lots checking car doors and windows to see if any valuables have been left in plain sight. Without entering the vehicle, they are leaving people report cards on how well their vehicle is secured.

Deputies check to see if doors are locked, if windows are open and if valuables are left in plain view. The report cards have been very effective so far, Sheriff Tony Mancuso said.

The Sheriff’s Office started the campaign at the beginning of the summer in preparation for the increase in neighborhood foot traffic from students on summer break. Students are often bored and more prone to steal when given the opportunity, Mancuso said.

People often walk through neighborhoods or parking locks checking doors and stealing items from the ones they find unlocked, he said. Few incidents of burglars actually breaking in through car windows have been reported. He said the cases they have received of window break-ins usually occur when something of high value is left in plain view.

The Sheriff’s Office is conducting this summer campaign in hopes that taking away the opportunity for theft by making cars less easily accessible can provide the necessary deterrent to potential criminals.(MGNonline)