Thefts From Vehicles On Uptick In Stafford: Police

STAFFORD, VA — How to explain this thing that's been happening in the Northern Virginia area for months, if not years? Namely, despite repeated warnings from every area police department from Arlington to Fredericksburg about the importance of locking one's vehicle to avoid theft, many folks simply don't follow the advice. Maybe they think such warning are fake news.

Whatever the case, such thefts are driving police crazy. The latest agency to sound the warning is the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. This week it released its version of the obligatory, common-sense alert to citizens:

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• Many times these types of thefts are crimes of convenience where the individual or individuals stealing items from the vehicles will travel through a neighborhood looking for unlocked vehicles.
• Other times these thefts occur during daylight hours in retail parking lots. Once the unlocked vehicle is located the criminal will steal any item of value that is easily obtainable.
• While unlocked vehicles are the primary target, those determined to steal will look into a locked car if they see items such as cash, GPS devices, computers or cell phones and break into the car and steal the items.

To avoid such a fate, the following advice is offered by the sheriff's office:

1. Be sure to lock your car at all times.

2. Make every effort to take all valuables out of the car. That includes money, wallets, computers, GPS devices, iPods, cameras, etc.

3. If you have a garage, and it is possible, park your vehicle in the garage and then lock the garage.

4. If your vehicle cannot be parked in a garage, make every effort to park your vehicle in a well-lit area.

Image via Stafford County Sheriff's Office