Some people might not think twice about leaving a purse or a package in the front seat of their vehicle, but for criminals it’s an enticing opportunity.

Multiple cars are broken into on a nightly basis in Selma, and with the holiday season quickly approaching, people can expect even more vehicles to be broken into.

“When you leave stuff in your vehicle laying on the front seat or laying on the back seat, whether it’s a package or a purse or something to that effect, it is tempting for people,” said Selma Police Chief John Brock.

Between Friday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Nov. 6, at least 29 vehicle break-ins were reported in Selma. That is an average of 4.14 break-ins per day in a week’s time.

Chief Brock said car break-ins, often referred to as a B&E, are among the most common crimes reported to the Selma Police Department.

“B&E’s are kicking our butts right now,” Brock said. “It is getting to be more common every day, and it is a hard crime to catch people doing it because they see us … long before we see them.”

For an average person, breaking into a car might seem like a tedious task, but for criminals that do it on a daily basis, it takes only a matter of seconds.

“They can pop the glass within a second. They’re in the car within two or three seconds, and another half a minute or less than 30 seconds they’re gone,” Brock said.

“They look under the seat, they look in the console and in the glove box, and if they don’t see anything they’re out the door.”

Brock said most breaking and entering crimes happen because something in the car entices the criminal or catches their eye.

“They’re looking in the windows, and if they see something they want, they’re going to break in. If they don’t see anything, more than likely they’re not going to break in,” Brock said.

“Unless they see something or it is a nice, expensive vehicle where they think there might be something in the glove box or the console or something to that effect.”

Brock said sometimes the damage done to someone’s car can be worth much more than what was taken due to busted windows or other damage criminals leave behind.

Most breaking and entering cases are a crime of opportunity, and to cut down on that opportunity people can follow a few tips to lessen their chances of having their car broken into.

Brock said the first thing people should do is make sure nothing is left in plain sight.

“Don’t leave anything on the front seat, nothing visible in the vehicle,” Brock said. “If you’re going to leave [the vehicle], lock it up in the trunk or take it inside.”

Brock also suggests parking in a well-lit area that will deter criminals from using the darkness for cover.

“Don’t park on the side of the street where there is no light. Park it in the driveway, park it anywhere it is well lit,” Brock said.

Brock said some people might be interested in installing movement lights that come on when something moves around their vehicle.

“Lights deter a lot of people,” Brock said. “If it is a dark place they can get in and get out without anybody seeing them.”

Brock also suggests people not leaving their keys in the vehicle because it could result in the entire car being stolen.