SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — With the holidays just a couple of weeks away, many people may be doing some last-minute shopping.
But with baskets and vehicles filled with shopping bags — thieves may be watching.
The Sevierville Police Department is offering some tips on how to make sure shopping bags are safe from thieves this holiday season. Sgt. Caleb Brien said always keep things of high value, like purses or shopping bags, out of sight and locking cars can help deter thieves.
“This is one of the times of year we do see an increase in burglaries of vehicles and thefts of wallets from our shopping centers," he said.
But Sgt. Brien said there are things people can do to avoid falling victim to thieves.
“We always recommend parking where there’s adequate lighting," he said. “We also recommend, if you do leave any valuables in the vehicle, just make sure those are out of sight and make sure your vehicle is locked.”
Sgt. Brien said shoppers should always be aware of their surroundings, and stay vigilant of thieves.
Police also said people should avoid leaving mail inside of cars, or other important documents in their glove box. They also said people should never leave a house key in their car.
The Sevierville Police Department also offers the neighborhood watch program year-round. More information about the program is available online.