OGDEN -- The holiday shopping season has arrived, but with it comes the threat of the theft of those gifts and other valuables.
Theft occurs year-round, but now is the time of year when opportunistic thieves take advantage of people who do not protect their possessions, which are sometimes already wrapped and ready to be lifted out of a vehicle or carried from the house.
Police have some tips so people don't fall victim to theft.
The key is to keep possessions out of the view of potential thieves.
Ogden Police Lt. Danielle Croyle advises people to keep their home's front door closed and locked, and Lt. Shaun Hamblin adds the garage door to that list.
Police also recommend leaving a house or porch light on when no one is home.
One December, a thief not only stole the presents from underneath a family's Christmas tree -- he or she also took the tree.
Police also urge people who are leaving their vehicle for some time to take valuables with them or store them out of sight, Hamblin said.
It's also important to be careful between the car and the store.
"Even if you're by yourself at the mall, walk out when someone else is walking out," Croyle said.
She also advises shoppers to park under parking lot lights as close to the front doors as possible.
Weber County had the third-highest number of burglaries in Utah last year, nearly tying Utah County for second place, according to a preliminary state report.
Weber County also had the second-highest number of vehicle thefts.
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