ACPD Warns Against Leaving Keys In Unattended Vehicles

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County Police are seeking the public's help in locating a suspect who they say tampered with vehicles early Thursday morning near the East Falls Church Metro Station, according to the daily crime report.

Officers were dispatched around 4 a.m., for the report of someone tampering with vehicles in 1800 block of N. Vanburen Street and 1800 block of N. Tuckahoe Street. They observed a suspect lying in the street. When they made contact, the suspect fled on foot into Falls Church. Police established a perimeter and began searching the area, but were unable to locate the suspect.

Following a preliminary investigation, officers determined the suspect entered approximately seven unlocked vehicle, looked through their contents and took items of value.

Police describe the suspect as an Hispanic male, in his teens, standing 5-foot-7 and weighing 145 pounds. He has a facial tattoo. This case remains under investigation.

ACPD reported that there has been a rise in thieves targeting vehicles that have been left running, unattended, and with their keys inside. In July, 31 vehicles were reported stolen in Arlington. Twelve were unlocked with the keys inside and nine were left running and unattended. ACPD shared the following guidance to help the public protect their cars and property:

• 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 duration of time. Doing so is illegal in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• 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 unattended. Vehicles with keyless ignition systems can be driven for extended periods of time even if the key fob is not inside the car. Be sure to read your owner’s manual carefully and familiarize yourself with how to operate your vehicle’s keyless ignition system properly.
• Keep information, such as the make, model, model year, license plate and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) easily accessible in the event your vehicle is stolen.