At the Simpson Reef Overlook, and all other state parks along the Oregon Coast, yellow signs are a visible reminder to visitors to keep an eye on their cars and what’s inside. While the number of car clouts are down so far this year, visitors are reminded to be vigilant.-World Photo by Lou Sennick

Some people would think the best advice for a great summer would be wear sunscreen or don’t eat the warm potato salad.

Want a better tip? Lock your doors.

During the warm days of summer lots of people are out and about. And when more people are active, so are local criminals.

Last year, this scenario added up to dozens of car break-ins at State Parks on the South Coast, as well as the usual assorted petty thefts.

While law enforcement officers don’t expect the number of vehicle break-ins to be as commonplace, they do say people should take the safety of their possessions into their own hands.

“It’s a crime of opportunity. If you have more vehicles parked out on the waysides, there’s more targets for people to hit,” said Oregon State Police Lt. Steve Smartt.  

And don’t disguise your belongings with a jacket or blanket.

“That’s kind of like waving a red flag in front of a bull. It just says ‘I have something under here that’s worth something that I don’t want you to see,’” Smartt said.

Summer typically brings an increase in minor thefts, but visitors and locals alike can safeguard themselves, including locking possessions in trunks or carrying those fancy cameras, handbags and iPods with them.

“Robberies are rare. Car clouts are not,” Smartt explained. “One, robberies are confrontational and most of these petty thieves are not confrontational. That’s part of their make up. They would rather work in private and in secrecy.”

Visitors also should be aware of their surroundings. Avoid parking at vacant waysides. If you do see something suspicious, take down a license plate number and call the police.

“You never know what little tip is going to help us break a case,” he said.

His department also is working to make State Parks safer by adding two seasonal patrols.

“It’s important ... because it’s kind of a high-visibility crime and it can really hurt our tourism base when it gets back to where these people come from,” the lieutenant said.

Break-ins aren’t the only thing people should worry about when trying to protect their cars. According to National Insurance Crime Bureau, a car is stolen every 26 seconds. If a thief is in the right place at the right time — such as when a person decides to leave his car running for “just a second” to run an errand — it takes just a second to steal one.

People shouldn’t hide spare keys in their cars, either. With the keys readily available, a car break-in can turn into a car theft, said State Farm Insurance agent Renee Frati.

Blocking burglars

When it comes to protecting your home, North Bend Police Capt. Ron Akers said people should realize thefts and home invasions can occur even when you are home. Akers recalled cases of people being out in their yards when criminals pinched wallets from kitchen tables.

“It’s always good to keep your doors locked, whether you are home or not,” Akers said.

When you’re not home, if you planning to take a vacation you can call the North Bend Police Department and request that officers keep an eye on your home.

“It’s not a promise, but if we have the time, we’ll check their house while they’re gone,” Akers said.

He suggested that trusted friends and neighbors also check on those homes, that mail and newspapers be put on hold. Also, install a security system if possible.

“The best thing is to talk to your neighbors,” Frati said.

People should watch for unusual cars or people who look out of place and tell neighbors to watch as well, she said.

During summer weekends, Akers said his department will have three officers on duty from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Another way to keep property safe is to install better locks and deadbolts.

Mike Brown, the owner of Phil’s Lock & Key in Coos Bay, said deadbolts are a good deterrent, but only if people use them.

“The credit card trick — that does work,” Brown said. “However, you cannot do that trick with a deadbolt.”

Residents also should consider getting grade 2 locks for their homes. Grade 1 is normally used by banks and governmental buildings. Grade 3, while the least expensive, is also the easiest to foil.

“They cost $8 and a bad guy could open that lock in less than a minute,” the locksmith said. “The message is the better grade lock, the higher security that you are going to have.”  

Steven Clark, the owner of Tom’s Lock & Key in North Bend, suggested purchasing door announcers, which chime when someone approaches an entryway. He also encourages people to install peepholes and using a “Charlie bar” on sliding glass doors to prevent thieves from entering.  

Frati said whether locals decide to purchase a special security system or other deterrent to protect their belongings, common sense may be the best defense.

“Just really limit the opportunity,” she said.