Mayfair in Tampa Palms

Auto Burglaries

Patriot?’s Park & Picnic Island

8-15-06
Auto Burglaries
(Patriot’s Park & Picnic Island)

The Tampa Police Department is receiving weekly reports of auto burglaries at Patriot’s Park and Picnic Island.

Patriot’s Park is located at the corner of Bay to Bay and Bayshore Blvd, where many citizens park their vehicles while they jog. Picnic Island is in the southern tip of the city, and is a great place to lounge or play with your kids. Since most people don’t take their personal belongings with them, criminals are taking advantage of the fact that purses, cell phones, and wallets are being left in the front seats of cars.

Criminals look for the easy targets, so following these safety tips could reduce your chance of becoming a victim.
Safety Tips

v Lock the doors and roll up the windows completely.
v Place all valuables in the trunk before you arrive at the parking lot. If you get stopped by the police, just explain that your I.D. is in the trunk. It’s O.K.
v Report all suspicious activity.
9-1-1 Emergency (crime in progress)
231-6130 Non-emergency
v Park in well lighted areas.
v Do not leave your keys in the car, or hide them nearby. Criminals love playing “hide and seek,” and you could be giving them a key to your house or other vehicles.
v Do not leave loose change or bills visible. To you it may mean a few bucks, but to a young delinquent it may be a free meal at McDonald’s, or to drug addict it could be their next “score”.

Please help us, protect you & your belongings.

The next time that you want to leave something in the front seat ask yourself:
? Is it worth the hassle of filing a police report? NO
? Is it worth the hassle of getting a new license, and canceling credit cards? NO
? Is it worth the $250/$500 deductible to replace the window the criminals broke? NO
? Is it worth the 20 seconds it takes to secure your valuables in the trunk? YES