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Leesburg Police leaving notes reminding residents to lock cars
If you have had your car parked in Leesburg with its doors unlocked recently, you may have received a note inside the car from the Leesburg Police Department.
Throughout the summer, Leesburg Police noticed a lot of thefts from cars around town. Items stolen include cell phone chargers, iPods and GPS units, spokesman Lt. Wes Thompson said.
“Having the target vehicles unlocked makes it much easier for [thieves], Thompson said.
So officers are carrying around form letters and placing a copy inside any unlocked vehicles they come across on public streets or on public property. This is part of the department's “Lock, Take, Hide or Lose” initiative to prevent vehicle thefts.
“This information is being provided to you in the hopes of preventing future crimes by reminding you to safeguard your property,” the letter says.
“Always lock your car doors, and if you must leave valuables in your vehicle, try to keep them hidden from common observation. A moment of conscious effort on your part could keep you from being the victim of a crime.”
While officers place letters inside vehicles, they are not allowed to do any searches without a warrant.
Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Plowman said that what Leesburg Police are doing is not trespassing under the law because they have not been told in advance by the owner to stay out of the car.
“I would be thankful that it was the police leaving me a note as opposed to seeing that my radio and other items had been stolen from my car,” Plowman said.
Call me odd, but I don't like the idea of an uninvited government official being given the power to enter my private property without warrant, permission, or just cause. They are not allowed to walk into my home and leave me a note regarding my front door being unlocked, are they? If a car is not personal property, then why do we pay personal property taxes to own them?
Many vehicles are not easily identified as being unlocked unless someone physically tries to open the door via the latch. Does this mean that the City Police are walking up and down my street randomly trying to open cars?
I think I will post a "No Trespassing" sign in my vehicle for the unlikely event in which I forget to look a door.
Posted by Daveonthestreet
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