Charlotte NC – In recent weeks, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police have noticed a significant increase in the number of auto-thefts.
Specifically, CMPD has seen a 24% increase in auto-thefts compared to 2015 and, in just the the time span between July 18th and July 24th, 2016, there have been 86 stolen vehicles reported; that’s a 76% increase compared to that period last year.
Alarmingly, many of these cases occurred in driveways, apartment complex parking lots, and open garages. A common factor in nearly 80% of these cases seems to be the use of vehicle keys by suspects to steal the vehicle. Suspects in these crimes were able to locate keys laying in cup holders, consoles, and even the ignition.
As a result, CMPD has increased patrols in many residential areas with marked and unmarked patrols in order to combat the problem. Officers will also be sending out additional crime prevention information via email, social media, flyers, and, in some cases, make contact with homeowners in order to remind them to close their garage doors.
Detectives are also working to apprehend suspects of these crimes. Thus far, 14 have been arrested in the last week for vehicle theft charges.
These are crimes that could have been easily prevented by citizens and CMPD needs the community’s help in stopping these incidents and are asking citizens to do the following:
· Lock your vehicle regardless of where it is parked
· Remove any keys from the car. This includes the valet key that is provided in a number of cars.
· Remove all valuables from your car including phones, computers, cash, and anything else that has value and can be stolen.
· DO NOT LEAVE FIREARMS IN YOUR CAR.
· Close your garage door especially at night
