It was National Night Out across the United States on Tuesday, and the City of Lima joined in on the fun!
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So you may have been very good this year and gotten a new flat-screen TV, but don't let the thieves steal your Christmas soon after you got it. Law enforcement says the best way to avoid thieves from checking out your home, is not to advertise the gifts that you got by posting stuff on social media or by leaving their boxes out with the garbage.
The day after Thanksgiving is always an exciting one -- a time where you can find great deals on items you have been eyeing for your holidays. However, Black Friday also brings some concerns that people need to be aware of when going out to shop. If you have multiple stops planned for your holiday shopping spree, it is important to not leave your items for everyone to see in your backseat. Doing this could invite holiday thieves to snatch up your valuables.
It was a spooky site around Lima Senior Saturday, as thousands of kids and their parents came out to fill their bags during Community Trunk or Treat. The line of candy seekers wrapped around the high school for the first year of the event. The Lima Police Department organized the event because they wanted to do something big for the community that was safe and fun. They were expecting around 2,000 kids, but they probably beat that number. To help them out, 67 businesses, churches, and organizations passed out candy, books, and other goodies to the kids. Organizers were happy to see the outpouring of support for this first-time event.
Organizers say that 65 businesses will be on hand to pass out candy and other goodies to the kids. The Lima Police Chief Angel Cortez wanted to do a big community-wide event that would be safe for everyone for Halloween. So they came up with the idea for the Trunk or Treat and they are looking to have a big crowd for their first time out.
The Lima Police Department has held drive-through candy handouts for several years and this year they are upping the ante. The department has invited local businesses and organizations to be part of their first annual "Community Trunk or Treat" at the west parking lot at Lima Senior High School. They have more than 50 participants signed up so far and are looking for more.
It appears to be related to the popular social video platform TikTok called the "Kia Challenge" which shows users how to easily break the ignition with the use of a USB drive or phone charger in a matter of seconds. Thieves appear to be targeting Kias and Hyundais. The online videos show mostly teenagers and young adults taking the cars for joyrides and either crashing or abandoning them. Larger cities like Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland are all reporting a rise in car thefts. We checked in with the Lima Police Department to see what the situation is locally.