“Lock It or Lose It” Drops Thefts From Autos by More Than 50%

SAGINAW, Mich. - March 7, 2014 - PRLog -- Thefts from autos in Saginaw Township are down more than 50%, dropping from 211 incidents in 2010 to just 104 in 2013. Crime Prevention Officer Christopher Fredenburg attributes the decline to the Saginaw Township Police Department’s “Lock It or Lose It” program.

“It has far exceeded our expectations and we are extremely excited and proud to have reached this milestone accomplishment,” said Fredenburg.

“There’s not a similar program that comes even remotely close to this success,” added fellow Crime Prevention Officer Henry Reyna.

Intended to discourage thefts from parked cars, “Lock It or Lose It” is an awareness campaign that offers three simple rules for residents to follow: remove valuables from vehicles, always lock your vehicles and report any suspicious activity.

Successes like “Lock It or Lose It” are making the STPD Crime Prevention Unit a model for other departments, and the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan will hold its March 21 quarterly meeting at the STPD, where the topic will be “Don’t Overlook the Benefits of Crime Prevention.”

For the past several years, “Lock It or Lose It” has been a partnership between the STPD, local insurance agency Saginaw Bay Underwriters and Frankenmuth Insurance.

“We’re thrilled that the program is having such an impact in the community,” said Saginaw Bay Underwriters President & CEO Peter N. Ewend. “SBU is proud to sponsor initiatives like these.”

Charles Sheaffer of Frankenmuth Insurance agrees. “We actively seek ways to help people in the Great Lakes Bay Region prevent losses and ‘Lock It or Lose It’ has gone a long way toward supporting this goal,” he said.

“It’s the collaboration between these businesses, the community and the department that’s making the program work,” said Reyna.

According to Fredenburg, “There are not too many communities in the United States that can tout the success of a great partnership such as this.”

“Lock It or Lose It” will return in 2014, kicking off on Memorial Day weekend. SBU and Frankenmuth Insurance will again sponsor the campaign.

About SBU

Saginaw Bay Underwriters has provided insurance solutions to the Great Lakes Bay Region for over 150 years. From offices in Saginaw and Saginaw Township, Midland and Bay City, SBU serves over 12,000 customers as one of Michigan’s largest independent insurance agencies.

Visit www.sbuins.com to learn more about The Clear Advantage™ for home, auto and life policies, business insurance, and employee benefits coverage.