WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The National Insurance Crime Bureau says that car thefts are going up across the state, making Florida the fourth state with the most car thefts in the country.
Authorities say this is mostly a crime that can be stopped, and sometimes all you have to do to stop it is lock your car doors. But that doesn’t mean everything is okay with your car.
Officers told CBS12 News that crooks are getting smarter and that there are things you can do to avoid being their next target.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau says that nearly 46,000 cars were stolen in Florida in just one year. Mike Jachles, a spokesman for the West Palm Beach Police Department, said that number could have been much lower if their cars had been locked.
“The last thing they’ll do is break glass, make noise, and stir up trouble. “They want to be able to sneak in, get a car, and leave quietly,” Jachles said.
Jachles said that more than 100 cars have been taken from the area so far this year.
Most of the time, old cars are targeted, but some newer cars are starting to get noticed because you don’t have to check the door handle to see if it’s open.
“These crooks are pretty smart when you see that the mirrors of newer cars fold in when the doors are locked. “They’re looking for cars with mirrors out, which tells them the car may be unlocked,” Jachles said.
Skyler McKinley, a spokesperson for AAA, told CBS12 News that crooks have sometimes used new technologies to hack transponder keys.
“So, if you chain your key right outside that door when you walk into your house next to your garage, that signal can be captured and then used to steal your car,” McKinley said.
McKinley also said that neighborhoods aren’t where most car thefts happen.
“However, it’s much more likely to happen if you leave your car at the airport, where thieves know you’ll be gone for weeks at a time. “If you park your car on a side street and don’t check on it often, it could be stolen,” McKinley said.
