A review of stolen vehicle reports in Nashville from Sunday, March 18 through Saturday, March 24 shows that 54.5% of the automobiles taken (24 of 44) were easy targets because the keys were left inside or made available to thieves.
Automobile owners carelessly making keys available to thieves is a major obstacle in reducing auto theft to record lows. Auto theft in 2006 dropped to its lowest level in 27 years despite the fact that a significant percentage of vehicles are stolen with keys each week.
“Keeping car keys in your control is a very simple way to greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of auto theft, while at the same time holding down the cost of insurance premiums,” Chief Ronal Serpas said.
The police department’s continuing PARK SMART campaign strongly urges citizens to lock their automobile doors, secure any valuables, and REMOVE THE KEYS.
Officers also urge citizens to SHOP SMART by not leaving purses or other valuables unattended in shopping carts, even for a very short time. An unattended purse is an easy target for a thief.
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