There has been a surge in thefts from vehicles in Sheboygan over the past week, and in one case, an opportunistic thief took a handgun from an unlocked vehicle.
Crimes like these tend to come in waves, specifically once the weather begins to warm up.
The Sheboygan Police Department is asking residents to remember three key words to avoid being the next victim: take, remove, and lock.
Take your keys from the vehicle, as nearly all of the vehicles that have been stolen in Sheboygan, and likely most cities, are due to the keys being left in the car.
Remove valuables, especially those that can be seen from the outside.
And lock your vehicle.
Nearly every single theft from a vehicle can be attributed to the fact that the doors were unlocked.
More often than not, if a car is locked, the would-be thief just moves on.