In a statement released Thursday by the Sumner Police Department, citizens should be wary of car prowls while they are parked in the city.
The department has experienced an uptick in car prowling reports over the month of May.
“There are likely others that have not been reported,” the statement read.
Car prowlers can be particularly difficult to catch because most of the thefts happen under cover of darkness and are committed in the space of a few minutes.
Prowlers may steal electronics such as global positioning systems and cell phones, but recent reported cases have included stolen registrations and other paperwork that can be used to commit fraud.
In order to lessen the risk of becoming a prowl or theft victim the police department has recommended eight precautions:
• Always remove your keys, roll up your windows and lock your car before you leave, regardless of the length of time you will be gone.
• Do not leave items of value in your car, even if you hide them in the glove compartment or a console.
• If you have a GPS that suctions to the windshield, and already take the precaution of removing it before you leave your car, wipe off your windshield to eliminate the telltale signs of suction cup marks.
• Park your car in your garage, or keep it in an area with a high level of visibility so that thieves will be wary of the risk of being caught. Consider investing in a motion sensing light on the front of your house if you park your car outside at night.
• Learn how to set and use your car alarm if you have one. If it activates, respond to it promptly.
• Participate in a block watch program and report any suspicious activity to police. You can find information on how to host a block watch at http://www.ci.sumner.wa.us/Government/Police/Sumner_police_block_watch.htm
• Remove your garage opener from your car when you park at home. A garage opener can act as a de facto key to your household for thieves with the motivation to offend beyond your car.
• Copy down the serial numbers to any electronics you own to a list in a notebook. If you have those numbers readily available, police will be able to track them down more easily, especially if they have been pawned.
