As the holidays approach, The Northside Public Safety Council would like to remind all Northsiders to lock all their doors.

“Keep all doors locked. Keep all windows locked. Keep patio doors locked, and keep car doors locked,” said Public Safety Council President David Stacy, who said that robbery peaks around the winter holidays, and simple steps can help prevent petty crime.

In addition to the holiday reminder, the Public Safety Council is continuing its efforts to reduce vehicle theft, which makes up roughly 20 percent of crime in the Northside neighborhoods.

In November, approximately 577 incidents were reported throughout the Northside, which led to approximately 157 arrests.

The Northside Public Safety Council is a nonprofit corporation composed of community leaders, businesses, government officials the Housing Authority, property owners and the Zone 1 Pittsburgh Police.

The Northside Public Safety Committee meets the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. on the mezzanine level of The Northside Leadership Conference’s offices at 4 Allegheny  Center. All are welcome.

A useful resource for the community is the Zone 1 website at www.communitysafety.pittsburghpa.gov.

For questions or concerns regarding crime or police presence, contact the Zone 1 Community Relations Officer, Forrest Hodges at forrest.hodges@pittsburghpa.gov.