Police
Top Story Archives: March 2008
Larcenies from Autos on the Rise: Police Urge Arlington Residents to Protect Their Property
On Friday, February 1, some South Arlington residents arose to the sound of breaking glass. Outside, on Four Mile Run, Arlington Mill and George Mason Drives and half a dozen other streets, 2 thieves were busy busting into at least 27 vehicles. They worked fast, snatching GPS devices, iPods and other electronic devices and then moving onto the next target.
Fortunately, several witnesses realized what was happening and called 911. Police officers flooded the area and the suspects’ getaway car was spotted heading northbound on I-395. A short time later, the suspects were taken into custody, caught red-handed with the stolen items.
Police officers and detectives were pleased with the outcome, but the two-person crime wave that morning highlights a growing problem: larcenies from autos. In particular, thieves are looking for and taking electronic devices left in vehicles. Some of the equipment is left in plain sight, some is hidden away, but either way it’s not safe and secure.
“I tell people, if you don’t want to lose it, don’t leave it in your car.” Says Detective Damon Washington, a member of Arlington’s Auto Theft Unit.
Portable GPS devices, in particular, are very popular with criminals these days. 150 GPS units were reported stolen in Arlington in 2007, a significant increase from 2006 when approximately 36 units were taken. Already, in just the first two months of 2008, thieves have ripped off more than 100 GPS units from vehicles in Arlington.
In a majority of these cases the items stolen were either left in plain sight, or there was evidence that the vehicle might contain something of value. For example, sometimes the vehicles owners concealed the GPS units, but they left the mount and charging cables in plain view alerting the thieves that there could be a unit hidden inside. It does not matter if the doors are locked, trends have shown that if thieves think an electronic device is in a car, they will break in.
The following tips will help you safeguard your property:
- Do not leave GPS units, iPods, cellphones, or other electronic devices in vehicles. That is the best way to protect them.
- Do not leave accessories for these devices visible in your vehicles. That will just tempt thieves to break-in.
- Don’t store electronic devices in the glove box or under the seat. Thieves will quickly find them.
- Use a micro fiber cloth or moist towelettes to wipe away suction cup marks on the windshield.
- Record all the serial numbers of your personal electronics. If the items are stolen and recovered then they can be identified.
- Use passwords on your personal electronics if so equipped. That will make the equipment less resalable and therefore less desirable to thieves.
- Try to park in well-lit, busy areas and always report suspicious activity.
The Arlington Police are devoting considerable resources to investigate and solve these crimes, but we need your help to prevent them from happening in the first place. Again, the safest way to protect your valuables is to take them with you. Don’t leave anything you cherish in your car, van or truck.
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