Lock it up, then come party with us. / Columbia Police Department

Hey, Columbia – July is #NationalAutoTheftPreventionMonth. And as it comes to a close, I want to remind folks that we should strive to prevent auto theft in our city every month. It only takes seconds for vehicle theft to occur, but in that same amount of time, you can prevent it from happening.

3 steps to #lockdownyourvehicle:

1️⃣ Don't leave your vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition (This one’s a given.)

2️⃣ Remove valuables and personal belongings from vehicle (a.k.a. those expensive sunglasses)

3️⃣ Lock vehicle doors (Lock. It. Up.)

If you practice these steps on a regular basis, it’ll become a habit that you want to keep.

Separately, we’ve got an event coming up that I think your whole family will enjoy: the 10th annual National Night Out Kick Off at Drew Wellness Center, this Friday (July 28), 6-8 p.m., featuring food, entertainment, door prizes, games + more.

We throw this annual event – in partnership with the City of Columbia’s Community Development Department, Parks and Recreation Department and the Columbia Council of Neighborhoods (CCN) – to continue enhancing the relationship between the community and law enforcement. Plus: It’s fun.

Photo courtesy Columbia Police Department

Stay safe until next time,

-William “Skip” Holbrook, Chief of Police