TUKWILA, Wash. - As one can expect at this time of year, thieves are targeting holiday shoppers and their cars.
Mike Scarff braved the crowds to buy several items and promptly put them in a safe place.
"I've heard you can have your car broken into, so I put it right in my trunk," he said.
The Northwest Insurance Council says people should be aware of what can lurk in the lots.
"This is probably the #1 time of year to have parking lot thieves out there watching you," said Karl Newman, Northwest Insurance Council.
It's also warning people about a high-tech tool that thieves have reportedly used nationwide. It involves the keyless remote entry device and the NIC says it has heard anecdotal stories about prowlers using equipment to dial in on the device frequency and pop open cars when no one is looking.
"As someone activates their keytag, they scan the frequency and use their own equipment to duplicate and when that person leaves the person is able to go into truck or car and use their frequency," said Newman.
So far it is not a widespread trend, but the insurance council says it is one more thing to keep in mind as you make your shopping scramble before Christmas.
Clearly you need to use some common sense: Don't leave packages out in the open in your car or make multiple trips.
As far as the keyless entry issue, one person told KING 5 it happened to them and gifts were stolen from a trunk, but Seattle Police say it's not a big problem that they know of right now.
