'Tis the season for would-be thieves to turn shoppers into victims.
Windsor police have launched its annual Lock it or Lose it campaign encouraging people to lock their car doors when they are holiday shopping.
Police were at Tecumseh Mall Tuesday morning, handing out pamphlets and checking vehicles in the parking lot.
Sergeant Steve Betteridge between 90% to 95% of vehicles checked were locked.
But he says for those people who don't lock their vehicles, it only takes a few minutes for a thief to open the door and grab anything valuable.
"What you don't want to do is in entice or make it easy for a would-be thief," says Betteridge. "Sometimes it could be visible electronics, phone chargers, loose change, sunglasses, jewelry, things of that nature."
He says for people who drive an SUV or minivan where the trunk can be in plain view, he recommends bringing a large blanket to cover any expensive items or shopping bags.