Majority Of Cars Stolen From New Berlin In 2021 Were Unlocked

NEW BERLIN, WI — While much of the Milwaukee metro area has seen a rash increase in the number of cars stolen this year, New Berlin has proved to be an exception, according to the most recent crime report from the New Berlin Police Department.

Police departments across the area have put out notices and taken action to prevent vehicle thefts. For example, police departments in Greenfield and Shorewood have both led initiatives to distribute wheel locks. But when it comes to New Berlin, there have actually been fewer cars reported as stolen so far in 2021 while compared to 2020.

Kia and Hyundai vehicles seem to be at the heart of the problem. Police have said the vehicle's security features present opportunities for theft, and the two car makes have topped the charts when it comes to stolen vehicles, a WUWM report shows.

New Berlin has been an exception to the trend, the New Berlin Police Department wrote in its November crime report. In 2020, 16 vehicles were reported stolen to police. So far in 2020, though, only seven vehicles and one trailer have been reported stolen, the report said. If the trend continues, New Berlin would recognize an overall decrease in vehicle thefts.

Police also point out in the November crime report that the nature of the vehicles stolen was not in line with how Kia and Hyundai models have been getting stolen elsewhere. Most of the cars reported stolen so far this year were taken after 10 p.m. from a person's house.

Of the seven cars reported stolen so far this year, six of them were found unlocked and taken with keys, police said. Only one of the vehicles reported stolen, a Kia, was forcibly entered and taken without keys.

The bottom line? Here is what the New Berlin Police Department said in the November crime report:

• "Please lock your vehicles and remove vehicle keys and anything else of value from your parked vehicle."
• "If you park your vehicle outside overnight, please remove garage door openers from your vehicle and/or deactivate the remote functionality on your remote system base when remote garage entry is not needed."
• "Please also attempt to park your vehicle in a well-lit area that is readily observable; thus, further deterring criminal activity."