HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Vehicle thefts and break-ins into vehicles are a common occurrence across Howard County.
Just this past week, a dozen vehicles were reported broken into by their owners. Thieves usually target vehicles in the overnight hours and look for those that are unlocked and easily accessible, or those that have valuables sitting inside the vehicle in plain sight, according to authorities.
According to the Howard County Police Department, two vehicles were broken into in Savage this past week with the theft of a tag and tools reported to police.
Two vehicles were broken into in Laurel this past week with the theft of tools and a dash cam.
Cash was reported stolen from a vehicle in Elkridge on Aug. 25 while building materials were stolen from a vehicle in Hanover between Aug. 21 and Aug. 24.
Five vehicles were broken into in Columbia this week and prescription medication was stolen from one of them, as well as a tag.
Food items were reported stolen from a vehicle in Jessup that was broken into last weekend, according to police.
The Howard County Police Department recommends residents heed the following advice to help prevent a vehicle break-in:
Always lock your vehicle. In some cases, thieves break car windows, but often, they bypass locked vehicles after checking the door handles. We have seen this on home security camera video residents have provided to officers.
Do not leave keys or key fobs inside your vehicle or leave your vehicle running unattended. We have seen "jump-in" vehicle thefts in which a thief steals a vehicle left running at a gas station or in a driveway. But a majority of other vehicle thefts occur because keys or key fobs are left in a vehicle.
Do not leave valuables in plain sight, or in your car at all – even for a brief time. We have seen thieves steal from vehicles at gas stations while the victim is inside the business. Wallets, purses, and electronics such as laptops and tablets are the most common valuables stolen. Thieves will use a stolen credit card as soon as they can, often to purchase gift cards.
Park in a well-lit area or inside your garage if you have one and close your garage doors. Thieves have entered open garages and stolen vehicles and items out of vehicles.
Additional security measures, such as vehicle tracking system/ GPS, vehicle security systems, and a steering wheel/column lock also can be effective deterrents.
Get your VIN etched. Have HCPD engrave your car's VIN on all major pieces of glass. This is a free event offered by HCPD. Check the calendar for dates/times.
Report a lost fob. If you lose a key fob, immediately contact the dealership to get a reprogrammed one, otherwise the lost fob will still allow a thief access to your vehicle.