In the last three months of 2011, there were 26 vehicle burglaries in the Incline Village area.

Authorities say even in a big city, 26 burglaries in three months is unacceptable, but in an area such as Incline Village it is a matter for concern.

In Incline the thefts are mostly to vehicles that have been left unlocked.

“Basically, these burglaries could have been easily prevented if the vehicles had been locked,” Washoe County sheriff’s Deputy Armando Avina said in a statement. “Criminals are using these unlocked vehicles as their own personal slot machines.”

Avina stressed that vehicle burglaries are crimes of opportunity. Criminals look for easy targets such as unlocked cars or valuables left in plain sight.

Burglaries of unlocked cars are also harder for authorities to investigate because there is typically little or no evidence left behind to provide leads, Avina said.

Avina said it’s also important not to leave anything of value, or any trace of valuables, visible in unattended vehicles. He advised against trying to hide purses, wallets or other valuables after parking a vehicle. If potential thieves are watching the parking lot, which is always a possibility, they’ll know that something valuable is in the vehicle and exactly where it is hidden.

Common vehicle burglary prevention tips include:

Lock the door when leaving the car.

Don’t leave valuables in the car.

If you need to leave valuables items in a vehicle, place them out of sight before reaching your destination,

Don’t leave any sign that there might be valuables hidden in a vehicle by leaving items such as docking stations or connector cables visible.

Be sure to set the car alarm or anti-theft devices.

Keep windows completely closed.