Lock Your Doors to Prevent Theft | Video

Alyssa Marino | 6/19/2012

It`s only June but there have already more thefts from motor vehicles in Bismarck than all of 2011. Unless people take preventative action, those numbers could double or even triple by the end of the year.

There`s been a significant increase in break-ins and thefts in Bismarck because people simply aren`t locking their doors.

Officer Nolan Canright of the Bismarck Police Department says the Capital City has been known to be a very trusting place. So people have never worried about locking their cars or homes.

"We live in a trustworthy community, and that`s a good thing. But one thing we have to realize is people take advantage of trustworthy people."

Canright also says it can be prevented by making sure to take valuables out of your car.

"We have to realize that vehicles are meant for transporting, not keeping valuables inside. We like to say that here, unless we`re driving armored trucks."

Thefts aren`t only happening from cars, there`s been numerous reports of thefts from homes too.

Alison Ritter experienced it early in the morning last week while feeding her newborn baby. Ritter immediately called the police. She says that, normally, her door isn`t locked all the time because she feels safe in her neighborhood. Her view has since changed.

"Am I glad our door was locked? Yes. Is it always locked? No. Will it be locked from here on out? Yes."

Bismarck police say there has been a 50 percent increase in thefts from last year. However, 90 percent of them are preventable if you just lock your door.

Thefts can happen to anyone at anytime. To make sure they don`t happen to you, just remember to lock up.

Bismarck police also recommend that people close their garage doors so thieves don`t have easy access to valuables.

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