The Elk Grove Police Department says beginning today and continuing until Christmas Day it will be increasing the number of officers on patrol at local shopping centers.

Officer Christopher Trim is with the department. He says…it may seem obvious, but the biggest tip is: hide your packages.

"Don't leave them in the backseat of your car or the front seat of your car. Same applies to a purse or a laptop bag. You want to put those things away. If you've got a lockable trunk put them in the trunk. If you've got a hatchback that has some type of covering that you can put over certainly put it in that area of the car as opposed to just throwing it into the backseat." 

Trim says most cities see an increase in vehicle burglaries during the holiday season…typically because people are busy and don't take the time to secure their belongings.

He says officers will be patrolling in marked cars, unmarked cars and on foot.