Issaquah police putting naughty on list for Santa

This year, Santa has backup against thieves thanks to the Issaquah Police Department.

Police patrolling shopping center parking lots leading up to the holidays are on the lookout for cars that might be easy targets for thieves, and putting their owners on the naughty list.

Police Sgt. Todd Johnson explains they’ve been seeing more and more car break-ins in broad daylight during the holiday season. Many thieves turn opportunistic, looking for packages on front stoops and newly purchases presents in the backs of cars.

Johnson says he noticed some victims made it much easier for thieves. “One of the main problems we noticed was cars were being left unlocked, high-ticket, high-theft items were being left in plain sight.”

That’s when they started putting car owners on notice, leaving notes.

“They’re little cards, they say ‘Santa’s Naughty List’ and we have the hashtag #SantasBackup,” he says. “[We] place these on the cars just as a kind of reminder this holiday season to try to keep those presents in the hands of your loved ones, versus getting stolen by someone and given away to their loved ones.”

Johnson says if he sees a new Xbox in the back of a car, or even shopping bags, someone who might steal it can see it too. The cards are gentle reminders to put new purchases in the trunk, as well as other crime prevention tips.

So far, he says he’s gotten good feedback on the program. “I was putting them on some cars and right after I put one on a car, the lady who owned it came up, and I just asked her what she thought of it. She liked it, she actually thought it was a good idea as a reminder for her just to keep these items out of sight.”