Don't become a victim

It's the kind of crime that most people think will never happen to them.

But smash-and-grabs are quite common throughout South Florida.

Earlier this month, two women had their purses stolen from inside their cars as they watched a softball game in Davie.

The crooks smashed the window of Alison Goldberg's blue Nissan and snatched her $350 Helen Weld purse from the floor between the passenger and driver's seat. Stolen was $40, a cell phone and her ID.

Police believe the same thief broke into Jodi Fisher's unlocked white Jeep while she attended the same softball game at the baseball field, 5810 SW 82nd Ave. Though nothing of Fisher's was taken, her sister's purse was stolen.

In that incident, the bad guys got away with the $2,000 black Gucci handbag and its contents - a $350 Kodak digital camera and identification.

Officer Jonathan Sanders, who wrote the police reports for both thefts, said the lighting in the area is "very bad at night."

But the best advice to prevent becoming a victim is to lock any valuables - purses, wallets, electronics - in the trunk of your car.

Don't tempt crooks by leaving anything in plain sight inside your vehicle.

Comments

[WEST MIRAMAR CRIME]

YES- "SMASH N'GRABS" ARE VERY VERY COMMON HERE IN WEST MIRAMAR!! YIKES!! WHY DID I MOVE HERE???

I WAS THE VICTIM OF ONE JUST 1 MONTH AGO (FEB 2007) . LOCATION WAS WEST MIRAMAR POST OFFICE- 10:20 AM WEEKDAY!

PURSE WAS UNDER A TOWEL IN FRONT SEAT WHILE I WENT INTO 'ONLY DROP OFF 2 LETTER'S'.. I WAS IN/OUT WITHIN '1' MINUTE AND SMASH!! GOT BACK TO CAR, AND MY PASSENGER WINDOW SMASHED, POCKETBOOK STOLEN!

DO 'NOT' LEAVE ANYTHING ANYTHING ANYTHING IN YOUR CAR!!-- THEY PREY AREAS WHERE QUICK DROP/OFFS OR QUIET AREAS-- POST OFFICE PARKING LOTS, DAY CARE CENTER PARKING LOTS... EVEN WHILE FILLING UP YOUR CAR WITH GAS !!