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CITY, ND – (NewsDakota.com) The following is a letter to the editor by Valley City Police Chief Fred Thompson issued to the media on September 15th. “The Valley City Police Department has been receiving notifications from our citizens of thefts of property from their vehicles, and garages. 

While the majority of these thefts do not amount to any significant losses to any of the victims, it is a loss just the same.  There does appear to be one common factor in the majority of these thefts, the building, vehicle, or structure, from which the items were taken were unsecured.

I know that years ago the residents of Valley City went about their daily business without locking their houses or car doors secure in the knowledge that they would not be a victim of a theft.  Everybody knew everybody and the honor system was in full play and people could just not bring themselves to take something that did not belong to them.  Trust in your fellow citizens was a must have.

Today, however, for any number of reasons, that honor and trust does not exist with a minority of people living, or passing through, the City of Valley City. These individuals will take the time to victimize those who leave a lock unlocked, or a door unsecured.

The easiest way to prevent these crimes is to take the simple step of locking your doors when you leave your home or locking your car door when you park it.  This current crop of thieves do nothing more than walk around the neighborhood trying the doors on your house, your car, or your garage, and taking advantage of anything easily spirited away. 

The property typically taken in these thefts are small change left in the ashtray of your car, the cell phone left behind, or a small but valuable tool lying on the bench in the garage.  Anything that can easily be spent, sold, traded, or pawned off for money. We have not seen an increase in forced entry thefts.  In fact, those types of thefts are rare here in Valley City.

If you are not sure what steps to take to secure your residence, please call us and ask.  One of our police officers will gladly come to your home, assess the situation, and give you common sense suggestions on how you can improve your security.

So please, shut and lock your garage door, lock your house doors, and lock your car. These simple steps will prevent you from being a victim in most cases.  Also, keep your eyes open. 

See a stranger walking around the neighborhood looking carefully at parked cars and/or homes in the area?  If you see something, say something.  Give us a call and we will come and check them out.  Your police department stands by to help you whenever we can.”

Chief Thompson talked about the issue with Ingstad Family Media report Steve Urness on his Voice of the Valley program on September 17th.