As summer heats up, so do break-ins

Read the police blotter today on page A2. In fact, read the blotter any of the past few weeks and you'll see a pattern. Thieves are targeting unlocked vehicles. Doesn't matter if your car is in the driveway, in the garage or parked in the municipal lot -- if it's unlocked, some bad guy is nearby to relieve you of CDs, GPS devices, your child's birthday gift and money.

Let's take a look at the Strongsville blotter today. A Palm Pilot and checkbook were stolen from a car on Crown Point. A purse was taken from a car on Beaver Circle. A GPS was taken from a van on Peppercreek Drive. A Blackberry was taken from a car on Compass Point Drive.

North Royalton: Someone broke into a Honda on Beaver Ridge Drive and took the GPS. It was left on the dashboard. A neighbor reported someone entered his unlocked vehicle and took items.

Thieves are having a field day. And we're helping.

Police call this the season for crimes of opportunity. It's too easy to leave the windows rolled down on a hot day. Or to leave the sun roof open. Or to leave the car unlocked, after all it's just in your own driveway or parked in the garage. Bad idea.

Police officers have some advice: Lock your cars and keep valuables out of sight.

Don't make it easy for criminals to make you a victim.

If you must keep hundreds of CDs in your car, put them out of sight in the glove compartment or storage console. Likewise for the GPS or radar detector. Never leave money out in the open. Put larger objects in the trunk. Putting items on the floor of the car really doesn't help protect them. Little things can trigger a heist. A thief can spot your GPS if even a wire is hanging out from under the seat. Stow valuables completely out of sight....