ASHVILLE, Ohio — The Ashville Police Department is asking residents to lock their vehicles and put valuables out of sight, saying most car break-ins and thefts in the village are crimes of opportunity rather than targeted attacks.
In a community security alert posted to Facebook, the department said unlocked doors and property left in plain view are the most common reasons vehicles are targeted. Officers urged residents not to leave a vehicle unlocked even for a brief errand or while parked in their own driveway, and never to leave a key fob or spare key inside the vehicle, glove box or center console.
The department also recommended rolling up all windows and sunroofs completely before walking away from a vehicle.
Beyond locking doors, the department asked residents to keep laptops, phones, purses, backpacks and shopping bags out of sight, and to lock any valuables that must be left behind in the trunk before arriving at a destination. Parking in well-lit, high-traffic areas when away from home, and installing motion-activated lighting over driveways at home, can also cut down on opportunities for theft, the department said. Officers also cautioned against leaving a vehicle unattended and running to warm up or cool down, even in a resident’s own driveway.
The department asked anyone who notices suspicious activity around vehicles, or whose vehicle has been broken into, to report it. Ashville, a village of about 4,600 residents in northern Pickaway County, relies on the county’s regional dispatch system rather than its own emergency call center. Residents seeking to have an Ashville officer sent to their location can reach Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (740) 474-2176 or call 911. The Ashville Police Department’s non-emergency office, at 200 E. Station St., is staffed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Ashville Police Department.
