Police Say: Lock, Take, Hide

City of Fairfax Police are reemphasizing the importance of taking simple precautions to prevent thefts from parked vehicles. Recently, many unlocked vehicles parked in the Cobbdale neighborhood were entered during the overnight hours, and easily visible items such as GPS units were stolen from several of them.

People parking vehicles in both residential and commercial areas of the city are encouraged to always lock them and take the keys and their belongings with them. If valuables are to be left in the vehicle, hide them out of view. These measures will help prevent the vehicle and its contents from becoming the target of thieves.

Donate Old Cars to Police

The Fairfax County Police Department is looking for vehicles in working condition that people no longer want or need and would be willing to donate. They could help their public safety community and receive a tax deduction at the same time.

Every year, the department uses about 20 cars to help train and prepare officers for the rigors of police work. Donated cars could be used as a faux suspect’s get-away car, helping officers with their precision pursuit driving techniques. Later, when the car is no longer in driving condition, it will be cut up (for training on how to cut into crashed cars), blown up (providing training for Explosive Ordinance officers) or shot (used as a prop in an active-shooter scenario).

Nothing will go to waste and the valuable contribution will serve many constructive purposes. For more information on how to donate vehicles or to ask questions, contact MPO Tom Beckman at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course, 703-818-1924.

Fairfax County License Plate

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved Supervisor Pat Herrity’s (R-Springfield) plan and design for a Fairfax County license plate. Besides allowing residents to show pride in their community, proceeds from the license plates’ sales will go to the World Police and Fire Games, which the county is hosting in 2015.

Afterward, from 2016 on, continued proceeds will go to Visit Fairfax to bolster its advertising and help increase tourism to bring valuable, out-of-state dollars into the local economy. Visit Fairfax has been aggressively signing up customers for the new plates, including private citizens and shuttle buses, plus hotel and hospitality fleets. Visit Fairfax is currently on its way toward meeting the 350 pre-signed applications threshold to make this Fairfax County plate a reality. The plates may be pre-ordered now at http://www.fxva.com/plates/.