Category: Local

Protect Your Vehicle after the Spree of Shrewsbury Car Break-Ins

parked carIf your car is parked in your driveway, garage, or close to home, you may think that it is safe and sound. Think again. A car burglary, break-in, or theft could happen at any moment. If you live in Shrewsbury or a surrounding town, you should take car theft seriously by protecting your auto, especially during the nighttime.

In July, for two weeks the Shrewsbury Police Department arrested five people who committed car break-ins at the Shrewsbury Green and Shrewsbury Commons apartments. First, two teens were arrested when officials caught them breaking into into vehicles at the Green. They were charged with larceny over $250 and nighttime breaking and entering into a motor vehicle with intent to commit a felony. In addition, three more people were arrested after allegedly breaking into cars at the Apartments. The burglars were each charged with breaking and entering a vehicle/boat in the nighttime and larceny over $250.

What if these crimes occurred on your property? If you leave your vehicle unattended or unlocked, this gives a robber the perfect opportunity to take your car. Reduce your chances of becoming a victim by following these tips:

Park in well-lighted areas both away from and at home. In addition, when you park, lock all the doors and your garage door.
Install a steering-wheel lock and an ignition disabler to prevent thieves from hot-wiring your car.
Never include your name and address on your keys.
Hide your registration papers in a safe place so a thief can’t steal your personal information too.
At Mancuso-Nowak Insurance Agency, we hope these tips will help you avoid car theft in the future. It is important that you teach everyone in your family these methods so your car can remain safeguarded. Another protective measure you can take is to have auto insurance. We offer personalized services to help you choose a policy and coverage that matches your unique needs. Our team understands how important your vehicle’s safety is, so when you come to us, you will feel safe.

PINK…Lighting the Way to a Cure!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a special time of year to honor and remember those effected by this disease. According to cancer.org, Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer and 1 in 8 women in the United States will get it during their lifetime. This is why it is time to find a cure! Help us support the research here at UMass Worcester. PINK…Lighting the Way is a fundraiser that is doing just that.

PINK

There are a few ways to show your support for breast cancer research and patient care through the PINK foundation. Join the team of doctors, survivors and patients for the amazing night of hope and inspiration. All will speak as to how breast cancer has come into their lives and affected them. Come see the building lit up PINK! Details for the event are:

Thursday October 10th
The Albert Sherman Center at UMass Medical 55 Lake Ave North, Worcester
Registration starts at 5:30
Speakers begin at 6:00
Reception to follow
If you are not able to make this wonderful night of incredible stories and research advances, please donate to help locally support breast cancer. Go to http://www.umassmed.edu/development/pink.aspx and make a donation. Every donation counts. We proudly support this foundation and have personal connections to some of the speakers who are survivors. As survivors and fighters, these women are amazing, strong and determined. They are truly awesome!

As a Driver, would You prefer to use Voice Activated, Hands Free Technology?

Hands free devices may sound like something out of the future, but this type of technology could be closer to becoming a reality than you think. Would you ever want to have the ability to operate your vehicle at the same time as you are texting or talking on the phone? As a driver, you must always be aware of your surroundings, but when your voice controls your phone or music, this could put you a unique risk for an accident.

According to a study conducted by AAA, hands free, voice recognition devices can be just as distracting to drivers as the traditional, hand held ones. Motorists were found to have delayed reaction times and missed visual cues such as stop signs while using hands free devices. Although automakers have been trying to develop systems for safer texting and phone calling on smart phones, that doesn’t erase the cognitive distractions the action of talking brings.

The researchers measured brainwaves and eye movement to evaluate the drivers’ mental workload. It was found that the focus on the road was decreased more so than if no devices were used at all. Therefore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration strongly suggests that officials reinforce the idea that mobile devices should be disabled unless the vehicle is stopped and in park.

At Mancuso-Nowak Insurance Agency, we hope motorists don’t take driving for granted. This is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, being responsible and safe behind the wheel can keep everyone both on and off the road out of harm’s way. If you feel you require more protection, then having our auto insurance may help. Our team knows that your needs differ from those of other drivers. Therefore, we will help you every step of the way so you can protect what is important to you.