"Stop, Drop, and Roll"

For what seems like the umpteenth time this year, I recently reviewed several daily crime reports and noted a series of vehicle burglaries where the victims left purses or cell phones or laptops or other valuable pieces of electronics in plain view. You know the story by now - the victim returns to their vehicle and is shocked to discover their items left carelessly on the seat have been stolen.

We continue to preach the message that everyone needs to lock their vehicles and secure valuables or risk losing them, but I fear the message merely falls on deaf ears for the most part.

And then I got to wondering with the immediacy of social media, is there a way for law enforcement agencies to get the word out so a phrase like "Lock It or Lose It" can become an equivalent to the fire department's infamous phrase "stop, drop, and roll."

It seems like every elementary school student quickly learns the basics of what to do should your clothing catch on fire - you stop running, drop to the ground, and roll over numerous times to put out the flames. Pretty simply stuff.

So why is it so difficult to get people to remember a basic crime prevention strategy?

Any ideas or suggestions as to how we might be able to make "Lock It or Lose It" go viral through today's social media world and maybe prevent some of these vehicle burglaries?

- Asst Chief Bill LePere