St. Martin Sheriff warns citizens to lock their vehicles

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning the public of a increased vehicle burglaries.

“In the past few weeks, there have been several burglaries of unsecured vehicles throughout St. Martin Parish,” said SMSO spokesperson Maj. Ginny Higgins.

“These thieves intentionally target vehicles that are left unlocked and often hit several residents in a neighborhood at one time.”

SMSO reminds homeowners to lock their vehicles and remove keys, money, lap tops, GPS devices, phones, etc., when they exit their vehicles.

“Make sure you also keep serial numbers and pictures of all valuables in a secure place in the event items are taken,” said Higgins. “This will make it easier to report and eventually identify and retrieve stolen items.

“Additionally, please make sure that the area where you park your vehicles is well lit. This will often times deter a thief from targeting your home and vehicles. If you notice any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, please call 911 and report it.”

Anyone interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch Group in their area should contact Maj. Higgins at (337) 394-2606.