During this holiday season, breaking and entering and theft is at an all time high in the community. “It was dark outside when I noticed my car had been broken into. I never thought this could happen to me,” senior Jordyn Schmid said. “I was shocked when I saw what happened and I got really scared.”

There are about 1.85 million break-ins a year, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The amount of money in stolen

electronics, accessories and personal

items taken from vehicles every year equates to $1.255 billion dollars, as reported by The National Insurance Crime Bureau.

“I lost about $500 in camera equipment and other items when I was robbed,” senior Kathryn Dowell said. “I was pretty upset, because it’s a lot of money to replace them.”

There is no guaranteed way to keep thieves out, but there are ways to discourage them from targeting certain cars. Keep the vehicle uncluttered and pricier items concealed so they’re out of sight, most of break-ins are determined from a peek through the window, according to AOL Autos.

“What people don’t realize is that crime is created by the desire to do something, the property itself and the opportunity to do so. If you remove opportunity, then it’s not going to happen,” Security specialist Jerry Griesbeck said.

Visual sight on the car for pit stops and avoiding busy or dimly lit areas is recommended. If a possible victim is being watched, it could make the thief think it’s too risky and leave.

“I park in my driveway now, instead of in front of my house,” Schmid said. “That way it’s closer and I think it makes it less likely for someone to want to break into it.”

Drivers could also alarm their vehicle to scare away a possible thief. If an alarm isn’t installed, buying one is recommended. An aftermarket alarm system can provide just as much protection as a factory-installed one, according to AOL Autos.

“I think I could have been watched without knowing it and I made the mistake of putting our things away in plain view,” Dowell said. “I felt weirded out and when they took my stuff, they took my privacy with them.”