According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, the highest crime the area has experience in the first half of the year is from vehicle theft.
Crime statistics will be released by police in a few days showing that auto thefts were more prevalent than the combination of all violent crimes.
From January through March of 2015, there were a total of 1,678 thefts from vehicles investigated by CMPD—which is 4% higher than in 2014.
It should make you think twice about leaving your car doors unlocked.
According to the South Division’s lieutenant Nate King, heroin addicts sometimes go through grocery store parking lots just checking each vehicle’s door handles.
And according to University City officers, thieves who are experienced at theft can break a car window and flee with the property in just a few seconds.
And hiding your valuables within the car isn’t always enough. For example, experienced criminals will look for signs of hidden stuff, such as the cord from an iPhone in charger or a bag on the floor.
Here are some tips for making your vehicle a less-likely theft target:
- Don’t leave out anything that is valuable where it can be seen, such as purses, computer bags, wallets, or electronics.
- Always keep your car doors locked and your windows rolled up all the way when you leave.
- Park in a garage if you can, or areas that are well-lighted.
- Try not to use phone holders or GPS devices that use suction cups on the windshield. Thieves who see the ring will assume the device is inside the car somewhere. And don’t just put the items in the trunk, as some thieves will also watch for people doing this before breaking the window and releasing the trunk.
