By City Manager Ken Striplin
The holiday season should be one filled with joy and time spent with family and friends, not frustration over stolen packages taken from cars or your doorstep. Santa Clarita is consistently recognized as one of the safest cities in the nation; yet thieves look for easy opportunities, especially when deliveries surge and shopping trips multiply. The good news is that most of these crimes are preventable. The City of Santa Clarita’s Lock It or Lose It campaign’s message is simple: remove the opportunity. A few consistent habits, whether at your doorstep or in your vehicle, can protect your gifts, your time and your peace of mind.
Start with smarter deliveries. Whenever possible, choose options that shorten the time a package sits unattended. Ship to a secure locker, select in-store pickup or request a signature for high-value items. Use your carrier’s app to enable real-time alerts and set delivery instructions like “place behind gate” or “deliver to side yard.” If you won’t be home, ask a trusted neighbor to grab the package or schedule your delivery for a time you are certain to be there. Also, take the time to harden the front of your home. Motion-activated lighting and a well-angled video doorbell deter thieves and capture useful details if something occurs. After opening gifts, break down boxes and product packaging—there’s no reason to advertise that you just got a new TV or gaming console to anyone who happens to be strolling or driving through your neighborhood.
Crimes of opportunity can happen in the blink of an eye in parking lots and driveways. Thieves look through windows first. If they see bags, boxes or electronics, they’ll check the door handles to see if they are unlocked. The Lock It or Lose It rule is clear: don’t leave packages or valuables in plain sight. Stash your purchases in the trunk before you reach your next destination, not after you park. Don’t leave coats, blankets and reusable shopping bags in your back seat, as they’re often used to conceal valuables and might attract attention. Lock your vehicle every time, even at home. Close all of your windows and sunroofs, remove spare keys and garage remotes and never leave the car running to warm up. When shopping, park in well-lit, high-traffic areas and stay alert as you load items. If you’re making multiple stops, consider dropping gifts off at home midway through the trip rather than letting purchases accumulate in the car.
This season, let’s protect what matters most: our families, time and sense of safety. Santa Clarita’s Lock It or Lose Itcampaign reinforces simple, everyday habits that prevent crimes of opportunity. Learn more by visiting SantaClarita.gov/LockItorLoseIt.
Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.gov.
