Dozens of people who parked in downtown Detroit probably thought they got a ticket when they got close to their car, but it was only a warning.
The group, H.E.A.T. or Help Eliminate Auto Thefts, along with DPD and Wayne State's Center for Urban Studies, issued mock tickets while many people were at the Tigers game.
"We're raising awareness," says Tyrone Carter, an AmeriCorps coordinator.
In just a short time, they looked through car windows and saw purses, clothes, binoculars, computer bags and keys.T
hey wrote mock tickets with the items they could see in plain sight, along with their estimated value. The idea is to get people to think twice before leaving something valuable in plain sight and making it tempting for thieves.
They say make sure to stow away your valuables away and do that prior to getting to your destination. They say would be thieves could be watching.
They're also reminding everyone to lock their doors and roll up windows.
