The best offense is a good defense when protecting from thieves

Make sure you are securing your homes and vehicles.

That's the message from the Yuma Police Department and Yuma County Sheriff's Office, and it's one worth heeding.

For many, there's a perception that Yuma is a small town, and one can leave the doors unlocked – everything will be fine.

But don't be fooled – Yuma has its share of issues, and burglary is on the list. In fact, YCSO responded to 22 vehicle burglaries and 10 residential burglaries in the last month alone.

It's a problem that residents make need to be vigilant about. According to YCSO, the majority of burglaries happened in vehicles that were unlocked, or in homes with garage doors left wide open.

Situations like that make a “Don't mind if I do!” opportunity for criminals to waltz in and help themselves to your belongings.

It's sad to think that people would behave in such a fashion, but the fact is, criminals are out there, and they are looking for opportunities to benefit themselves.

The other dark side of this is what can actually be taken. Most people think of theft as a loss of material goods – jewelry, money, televisions, etc. But what if a computer is stolen? Or a file containing Social Security numbers or bank account numbers? The problem can easily move past a material loss and into personal data and identity theft – which is a nightmare no one wants to face.

YCSO and YPD offered a variety of tips to protect the public, such as rolling up or closing windows, using anti-theft devices, keeping valuables out of sight (both in your car and your home) and parking your car in the garage.

But the best advice they offered is the simplest: Lock your home and your car and don't leave your keys somewhere accessible, such as under a front door mat.

Taking appropriate precautions is the best way to protect oneself from unwanted thieves.