KENTWOOD, Mich.—As the busiest shopping day of the year approaches, police are offering 10 ways to protect yourself and your vehicle from thieves.

Help Eliminate Auto Thefts (H.E.A.T.) works with Michigan law enforcement agencies to track down suspected car thieves and those suspected of auto theft-related insurance fraud.    Shoppers are encouraged to follow these tips:

KENT COUNTY, Mich.—Four additional officers from the Kent County Sheriff’s Department will be patrolling the hallways and grounds of West Michigan schools next fall.

The Kent County Board of Commissioners last week approved contracts in which the Kent County Sheriff Department will provide a school resource officer to Byron Center Public Schools, Kent City Community Schools and Kenowa Hills Public Schools.  Lowell Area Schools is working with a community partner to fund a school resource officer and hopes to commit to a contract in the coming weeks.

The SROs will improve school safety by investigating school related incidences and taking a proactive approach to deter violence and crime on campus.

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich.—Kent County Sheriff’s deputies do not believe thefts that took place at York Creek Apartments this past weekend are connected to a string of crimes within the county.

The suspects targeted at least one vehicle between 6 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Sunday.  Deputies say they propped one vehicle on cinder blocks before stealing its rim and tire.  One resident says several vehicles were vandalized, but only one of the thefts was reported to deputies.

So far, no arrests have been made.