Keeping Your Car Safe
Sorry, this video is no longer available
A vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds in the U.S. and most of those thefts happen in July and August.
New cars have features that can help prevent these kinds of crimes.
Police in the valley say most of the car thefts that happen are crimes of opportunity.
They involve people leaving cars unlocked and giving criminals a chance to take what doesn’t belong to them.
“In my hurry, I went back into the mall, next thing I know I didn’t even lock my car. Didn’t even use the little clicky. None of that,” said Karen Baxter of Fargo.
“I had my purse stolen, out of my car in my garage one night,” said Karen Kost of Casselton.
It’s something no one wants to feel; having something stolen from their car.
A worse feeling could be having your actual car stolen.
Newer cars have features that can help deter these kinds of crimes.
“The keys now are so high tech; they have more rolling codes on them than garage door openers,” said Corwin General Sales Manager Francis Borts.
Newer cars also have breaking sensors on windows.
An alarm will sound if the glass breaks.
And if you don’t happen to have a newer car;
“Most auto starts do have the features that you can add a security system along with the auto start,” said Borts.
In Fargo, police say car thefts are down for the month of July, there were 18 last year and so far, only 13.
Moorhead police say car thefts for the first six months are at 82, last year they were at 52.
Police say there are a few things you can do to keep your car secure.
Some tips include, parking in a well–lit area, removing keys from the ignition, closing windows and locking doors… also don’t leave valuables in plain sight.
“The average person you think, oh they won’t take anything. You’re so trustworthy. You think, oh I’m nice all these other people must be nice. No, that’s not the case,” said Baxter.
July Is National Vehicle Theft Protection Month and Fargo police have been reminding people on social media to take extra care of their vehicles.
