What Carmel, Fishers police are doing to deter holiday shopping car break-ins

FISHERS, Ind (WISH) – With car break-ins on the rise this year, two Hamilton County cities are adding patrols during the holidays and asking shoppers to be smart.

With Black Friday hours away, neighbors are getting ready. “The crowds,” shopper Megan Tobin said. “The lines.”

“I think we all need to be kind, and remember the golden rule, no pushing, and no shoving,” shopper Jackie Harker said.

Etique isn’t all people need to think about. They also need to remember smart shopping.

In Carmel, the number has already surpassed all of last year. In 2015, there were 226 thefts from vehicles and in 2016 there have been 252.

In Fishers, there were 764 reported thefts from vehicles in 2015 from January until mid-November. This year, there have been 802 cases.

“Always look under your car, around your car and be aware of your environment,” Harker said.

Shoppers aren’t the only ones watching. Fishers and Carmel police are beefing patrols near stores.

“I mentioned to a business down on 96th Street, “Tis the season along the lines of, while it’s more shopping, but also people who do this for a living, who get into people’s cars, know there’s more availability out right now,” Fishers Police Department Patrolman, Jamie Alvis said.

This is why you’ll see officers weaving around lots, and leaving notes on cars.

As for shoppers, if you need to leave a gift behind, cover it with a blanket, or put it in the trunk. Most importantly, lock the car.

“We don’t get as many calls from people who have taken, who in my opinion, who have made efforts, who have taken steps to kind of make it to where people don’t see them as a potential victim for that,” Alvis said.

“Most of it is opportunity,” Alvis said. “We just want to stem that opportunity for the people that want to do that.”

As for why break-ins are on the rise, officers said it could be due to increased crime, or more people reporting it this year.

In addition to shopping, neighbors should be smart with their homes as well.

Lock the doors, have neighbors watch your home, and both Carmel and Fishers police will even do house checks.

As far as those home burglaries in those cities, the good news is they are down this year. For more holiday advice, click here.