Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Assn.

How to “park smart”

Mar 23, 2000

By Portland Police Bureau

Here are some timely and useful ways to keep your car and yourself safe while parking in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, car thief and vehicle break-ins do happen in BWNA. Protect yourself.
 Be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts.
 When parking your care, look around and observe what and who is around you.
 Look for available lighting when you park your car on the street. Try to park under street lamps.
 Thieves often find cars left in the dark attractive.
 Don?’t leave valuables in your vehicle. There are no safe hiding places that thieves do not know about.
 If you must leave valuables in your car, do not store them in plain sight as you park your vehicle. Put the valuables in the trunk before you park the car on your street.
 Don?’t leave your purse, wallet, computer or packages inside the vehicle in plain sight.
 Don?’t leave spare keys in the car. Most common hiding places for spare keys are well known to thieves.
 LOCK YOUR CAR AT ALL TIMES. Both when you leave it and when you are in it.
 Never leave your car running with the keys in it while you go inside for ?“just a minute?”.
Remember, theft is frequently a crime of opportunity. Be smart, don?’t be a victim.