Car theft a national and city problem
Published 3:46 pm Thursday, April 30, 2009
By Dennis Box, The Courier-Herald
Auto theft is the nation's number-one property crime, costing more than $7.5 billion each year, according to the Washington Insurance Council.
The problem is as prevalent in Bonney Lake as the rest of the country, although the number of thefts dropped in 2003.
Bonney Lake had 80 reported auto thefts in 2002 and 72 in 2003. In 2001 the number of auto thefts was 54.
"Auto theft dropped last year, but it's still a serious problem," Police Chief Bryan Jeter said. "It's been a huge problem in Tacoma and it's spread to our community, too."
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported 40,748 vehicles were stolen last year in Washington state, a 3.5 percent increase over 2002. The FBI estimates the economic loss for victims of this crime in 2003 to be $273 million.
Jeter said most of the auto theft problems in Bonney Lake were crimes of opportunity.
"People will run into (a convenience store) and leave their vehicles running," Jeter said. "Or they are warming their cars up in the morning and, boom, it's gone."
To help combat the problem, the LoJack recovery system is being installed in Bonney Lake Police Department vehicles.
If a car has a LoJack system installed and is stolen, police can track and pinpoint the location of the car through wireless radio frequency technology.
"Sometimes recovery of the vehicle is within an hour," Jeter said.
An important aspect of stopping car theft is in the hands and head of the owner. The Washington Insurance Council and the Puget Sound Special Investigators list the following tip to reduce the chances of auto theft.
€ Keep doors locked and windows completely rolled up.
€ Remove the keys from the ignition, even when only briefly stepping away from the car.
€ Keep valuable items such as bags, cell phones and brief cases out of sight.
€ Always park in a well-lit area.
€ Always activate your vehicle's security or alarm system when parked.
€ Before buying a new vehicle, check with an insurance company to find out which vehicles have the highest risk of being stolen.
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald
