Car thefts are always a big concern in Puget Sound. The
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office reports in its Annual report for 2017 a 10.3%
increase in vehicle thefts for unincorporated Snohomish County and cities that
contract with the Sheriff’s Office for police services. 1,941 vehicles were stolen
in 2017 and 1,760 were stolen in 2016. That’s at least 5 cars stolen in
unincorporated Snohomish County every day.
Vehicle theft is often a crime of opportunity. Some factors
that create opportunity for car thefts include:
·
One out of every five vehicles stolen have the
keys or key fobs in them.
·
Almost half of all vehicles stolen are left
unlocked.
·
Many stolen vehicles are older, such as Hondas
and other vehicles, that do not have the sophisticated security measures that
modern vehicles have.
Car thieves steal for one of the following reasons:
·
To sell the car or truck. This can be to sell it
abroad or locally. For a foreign sale, the car will be packed in a container with
false export documents to a destination that might be in Eastern Europe,
Russia, the Middle East, South America, the Caribbean, Africa or Southeast
Asia. For a local sale, it will receive a false VIN and sold to an unsuspecting
customer. It could also be dismantled and sold for parts.
·
To go somewhere. Often a car thief needs
transportation to and from somewhere.
·
To commit another crime. If police see a suspicious
vehicle, the registration does not lead to the thief. Often, stolen cars used
in a crime are found abandoned.
What to do to prevent your car from being stolen?
·
Take your keys with you. Don’t hide them, car
thieves know all the hiding places.
·
Lock your car. Don’t make it easy.
·
Park in a well-lighted area.
·
Don’t leave anything visible in your car.
For more about car theft prevention, look at the following
links:
Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority (WATPA):
https://www.waautotheftpreventionauthority.org/
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:
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