(MAP) Vehicle Burglaries Decline Last Week

Vehicle break-ins slowed last week following a surge in incidents for the first part of the month.

There were two vehicle burglaries between July 16 and July 22. That’s a steep drop from a first half of the month that saw criminals hit 18 vehicles.

The map above shows all vehicle break-ins May through July 22, based on police reports. Pin colors correspond to the following months:

• Blue: May
• Red: June
• Green: July

Patch will update the map regularly to show ongoing trends.

Drivers are encouraged to lock car doors and remove expensive items from inside their vehicles.

Below are on deterring so-called “car prowlers.”

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# 1: Take valuables out of your car.

Glassberg said this the most important action that residents can take to prevent break-ins. Most vehicle thefts are crimes of opportunity, he said. Thieves see a pricy electronic gadget—or a cord that suggests one might be there—and decide to get into the car. If they don’t see anything, they’ll often move on to the next car. And don’t try to throw thieves off by hiding your valuables: “You never know if people are watching or maybe they watched you another day,” Glassberg said.

#2: Don't lock valuables in your trunk after you've reached your destination.

Criminals are often on the lookout at both inside and outside parking areas for people stashing expensive items out of sight. 

#3: Stay on the lookout for suspicious activity.

Being observant helps police prevent thefts. Don’t be shy about reporting any activity that you think is off.

#4: Think carefully about locking your car.

Glassberg said he, personally, is always careful to lock his car. But he added that it can be worthwhile to leave a vehicle unlocked in order to prevent damage that occurs during break-ins. After all, thieves will sometimes break into a vehicle even if they don’t see anything valuable. That being said, be certain that you don’t leave anything of value in the vehicle. This doesn’t just mean property that thieves might want. It also means documents with personal information that could be used for identity theft.

#5: Park in heavily trafficked areas.

Thieves are wary of areas where people are most likely to see them breaking into vehicles. Look for the areas with the most eyes, and avoid places that are hidden away from public view. Underground parking garages, where the most-recent thefts took place, are particularly bad because there hidden from both sight and sound. Even secure garages can shelter thieves, who may follow residents inside the garage. “Underground garages are havens for car prowlers,” Glassberg said.

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