The Gazette-Enterprise

Officers want residents to see the signs, and prevent the crimes.

The Seguin Police Department is taking new steps to help prevent motor vehicle burglaries with signs that remind people to be cautious about leaving belongings in their cars. Seguin Police Chief Kevin Kelso said the department has 75 signs, 50 in English and 25 in Spanish, they plan on installing around the city to try to cut down on the number of thefts of motor vehicles.

“We have an enormous amount of motor vehicle burglaries,” Kelso said. “Most of them are crimes of opportunity. People leave things in plain sight in their cars or leave the doors unlocked.”

Kelso said the police department has been trying to step up prevention for vehicle burglaries over the past year.

“We had 400 burglaries of motor vehicles in 2009,” Kelso said. “We’ve only had 300 so far this year.”

Seguin crime prevention officer Billy Rodriguez said they are trying to get the sign campaign off the ground in time for the holiday season.

“People tend to be careless,” Rodriguez said. “They will be out Christmas shopping and will leave things on the seats of their cars. Or they will leave the doors unlocked. The majority of burglaries happen in an unlocked car.”

The first sign went up at Summers Bend Apartment complex. Rodriguez says they are hoping to get businesses around town to cooperate with the campaign and have the signs installed in their parking lots.

“These signs are new and bright and will hopefully get people’s attention,” Rodriguez said. “These are just simple reminders of locking your doors and taking your valuables. We want to make the public aware that we’re all potential victims of crime.”

The signs were funded in part by a grant, and also by donations. They remind the public to lock their cars, take their keys, and hide their belongings. Kelso said that if a business is interested in having one of the signs in their parking lot, they need to contact the Seguin Police Department at 830-379-2123.

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