28 Vehicles Stolen In Arlington During First 2 Weeks Of May: Police

ARLINGTON, VA — During the first two weeks of May, Arlington County Police received 28 reports of stolen vehicles, with most of the cases involving unlocked vehicles with the keys or key fobs inside the car.

Groups of people will travel together as they search an area of Arlington for unlocked vehicles, police said. The suspects try door handles of parked vehicles and enter those that are found to be unlocked.

They then rummage through the vehicles for items of value and steal vehicles that have keys or key fobs left inside, police said. These incidents typically occur during overnight hours with suspects often committing a series of larcenies by targeting numerous vehicles at a time.

The Arlington County Police Department is recommending that residents follow these safety tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially in garages, parking lots, and gas stations.
• Close and lock all windows and doors when you park. Double click the lock button on the key fob to receive a confirmation beep/chirp or pull on the door handle to verify it’s locked.
• Park in well-lit areas and activate exterior lights at your home.
• Never leave the area while your vehicle is running, even for a short period of time.
• Do not leave your keys, key fobs, or valet keys in your vehicle. This includes keys to a secondary vehicle.
• Ensure that your vehicle is turned off when leaving it parked and unattended. Vehicles with keyless ignition systems can be driven for extended periods of time even if the key fob is not inside the car.
• Keep information, such as the make, model, model year, license plate and VIN easily accessible in the event your vehicle is stolen.
• Participate in the 9 P.M. routine and encourage your family, friends and neighbors to do so too.

Arlington County Police said its officers patrol Arlington’s neighborhoods to identify and prevent criminal activity.

Residents who see criminal activity should contact the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222. Residents also should not approach someone breaking into their car, and instead should dial 911 immediately.