Vehicle crimes surge in Phoenix suburb known for safety
Jul 19, 2018, 11:49 AM | Updated: 11:53 am
(Twitter Photo/@GilbertPolice)
PHOENIX — Police in a Phoenix suburb known for its safety have been reminding residents to lock their cars after a steep rise in vehicle-related crimes.
Vehicle thefts and burglaries in Gilbert were up 41 percent year over year in the first half of 2018, according to police statistics.
“Well over 90 percent of these crimes are committed on unlocked vehicles,” Sgt. Darrell Krueger of the Gilbert Police Department told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday.
The statistics included stolen vehicles, burglaries of items inside vehicles and the theft of items that didn’t involve entering the vehicle.
In 2017, there were 487 vehicle crimes from Jan. 1 to July 16. Over the same period this year, there were 689 such crimes.
Vehicle burglaries surged by 48 percent, from 339 to 502.
According to a WalletHub study, Gilbert was the fifth-safest city in the country in 2017.
Krueger called the incidents crimes of opportunity.
He said surveillance video collected by residential security cameras showed thieves passing locked cars and moving to easier targets.
“Literally people are walking door to door down city streets, checking cars, seeing if they’re open, removing items and moving to the next one,” he said. “If homeowners can lock up, it’s going to reduce that crime of opportunity.”
Krueger also suggested removing valuables from vehicles or at least locking them in the trunk, out of sight.
“That will also limit the reasons for the suspects to try to enter into cars to take an item,” he said. “Especially if it’s an item of value.”
Police also are increasing patrols and working to raise awareness in areas where cars are highly concentrated, including churches, schools and malls.
“One of the best deterrents for police work is the visual deterrent, where someone would see a police officer and then keep moving along rather than try and victimize people in those areas,” Krueger said.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Taylor Kinnerup contributed to this report.