The St. Cloud Police Department Tuesday began implementing Operation Lock It Up within city limits in an effort to combat burglaries of unsecured properties and vehicles.

During Operation Lock It Up, which will be conducted through Thursday, SCPD will have several officers present, signs placed at the entrances to neighborhoods and marked patrol units with lights on. Residents will be given fliers to remind everyone to lock doors and windows and safety tips will be provided as well.

Bicycle Unit officers will also patrol neighborhoods looking for unlocked vehicles and garage doors. These officers will make contact with residents and advise them of the risk of leaving property unsecured and how residents may easily become victims of burglary.

Operation Lock It Up is being conducted in areas with the most incidents of burglaries.

On Tuesday, the operation centered on Blackberry Creek Estates, Canoe Creek Woods and Mallard Pond.

Today from 4-6 p.m., the operation will focus on Pine Lake Estates, Gold’s Gym and the Deer Creek Subdivision.

On Thursday, also from 4-6 p.m., the focus will be on Keystone Pointe, Pine Chase Estates and Canoe Creek Lakes.

After Thursday, Operation Lock It Up will continue at the direction of the police department's community outreach officer. Operation Lock It Up signs will be placed at strategic locations throughout the city for approximately two weeks. The signs will then be relocated by the community outreach officer to other locations.

The SCPD Bicycle Unit will contact the community outreach officer on a weekly basis to inquire where the most burglaries are occurring and target the area – all in an effort to curtail criminal activity and educate residents with safety tips/precautions.

“Statistics indicate that approximately 80 percent of the reported burglaries in our community are due to unsecured vehicles and property,” SCPD Patrol Capt. Fran Rinehart stated in a press release. “Crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility. The success of this operation will work toward our goal in drastically reducing crime within the city.”

For more information about Operation Lock it Up, contact SCPD Community Outreach Officer Ron Caswell at 407-891-6735.