Commentary>>Lock it or lose it!

By Capt. Robert Shaw
19th Security Forces Squadron commander

Have you ever wondered why a personal possession was stolen? Or asked yourself why it happened to you? Often times, due to a false sense of security, one may overlook securing their vehicle, home, or other valuables.

When people are in a rush or they convince themselves that a theft won’t happen to them, they become a victim. For that reason, it is important to secure your personal property and be aware that not everyone has good intentions. In fact, recent trends show that on-base thefts and attempted thefts are on the rise.

Criminals, like terrorists, will look for easy targets and will often act when they see a target of opportunity. A target of opportunity could be an unlocked locker at the gym, an unlocked vehicle with a bunch of high value items such as I-pods, GPSs, CDs, DVDs, etc., or leaving an unlocked bicycle at a base park. Either way, it’s important to remember that even in our fast paced life-style, it’s more important than ever to take the extra time to secure your personal belongings and valuables.

Don’t allow yourself to become a victim of theft and remember to report any suspicious activity or crimes in progress to Security Forces at (501) 987-3221 or the anonymous crime stop line at (501) 987-6600.