Editor's note: The following story was originally published on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 at 6 a.m.
Newport Beach is a very safe city, but residents are still giving thieves plenty of chances to snag property from their unlocked homes and cars.
At a news conference Wednesday at the Marriott Hotel, the Newport Beach Police Department introduced The Stolen Collection, its new crime prevention campaign, by hosting an eye-opening fashion show for the media. Complete with models posing as thieves showing off designer handbags, electronics, sunglasses and other accessories, the fashion show displayed the types of high-end items scattered across homes and cars in Newport Beach which have been catching the attention of thieves.
"Last month 93 percent of crimes in the city were the result of unlocked doors and items left in plain sight," Newport Beach Police Chief Jay Johnson said. "The problem is residents let their guards down because they know they live and work in a safe city."
So to drive the point home that property crimes are preventable, The Stolen Collection campaign with its motto "Secure Your Valuables or Lose Them," is rolling out around Newport Beach with ads placed on bus shelters, buses and gas stations to serve as reminders to residents to keep their valuables secure. A 30-second video will also air during previews at local movie theaters and on local television stations.
Although the crime rate has continuously decreased over the last four years in Newport Beach, Johnson said more work needs to be done to get the community to be proactive.
As an example of the lax attitude in Newport Beach, Johnson said during Wednesday's news conference police walked the parking lot at the Marriott and found nine purses, a laptop, three iPads, five cell hones, three cars with keys inside of them, 13 sunglasses, 17 luggage or duffle bags -- some with cash -- Hermes and Tiffany shopping bags, one television and eight GPS devices left in plain sight in various parked cars.
"We need to do better, these crimes are preventable," Johnson added.
Newport Beach police partnered with ETA Advertising to create The Stolen Collection campaign. Johnson said so far the campaign has cost about $21,000, all of which has been paid for by Narcotics Asset Forfeiture funds, or money police officers seized during investigations.
Newport Beach is a very safe city, but residents are still giving thieves plenty of chances to snag property from their unlocked homes and cars.
At a news conference Wednesday at the Marriott Hotel, the Newport Beach Police Department introduced The Stolen Collection, its new crime prevention campaign, by hosting an eye-opening fashion show for the media. Complete with models posing as thieves showing off designer handbags, electronics, sunglasses and other accessories, the fashion show displayed the types of high-end items scattered across homes and cars in Newport Beach which have been catching the attention of thieves.
"Last month 93 percent of crimes in the city were the result of unlocked doors and items left in plain sight," Newport Beach Police Chief Jay Johnson said. "The problem is residents let their guards down because they know they live and work in a safe city."
So to drive the point home that property crimes are preventable, The Stolen Collection campaign with its motto "Secure Your Valuables or Lose Them," is rolling out around Newport Beach with ads placed on bus shelters, buses and gas stations to serve as reminders to residents to keep their valuables secure. A 30-second video will also air during previews at local movie theaters and on local television stations.
Although the crime rate has continuously decreased over the last four years in Newport Beach, Johnson said more work needs to be done to get the community to be proactive.
As an example of the lax attitude in Newport Beach, Johnson said during Wednesday's news conference police walked the parking lot at the Marriott and found nine purses, a laptop, three iPads, five cell hones, three cars with keys inside of them, 13 sunglasses, 17 luggage or duffle bags -- some with cash -- Hermes and Tiffany shopping bags, one television and eight GPS devices left in plain sight in various parked cars.
"We need to do better, these crimes are preventable," Johnson added.
Newport Beach police partnered with ETA Advertising to create The Stolen Collection campaign. Johnson said so far the campaign has cost about $21,000, all of which has been paid for by Narcotics Asset Forfeiture funds, or money police officers seized during investigations.
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