By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph Police Department is continuing to see problems with stolen vehicles in the city.
Interim Police Chief Dave Hart says recently they've seen an uptick in the number of car thefts
"People leaving their keys in their car and running while they run into the gas station, and then they come out and someone's liberated their vehicle from them," Hart tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "We just continue to try to educate people, turn off your car, take your keys with you, lock it."
Hart says you should also hide any valuables you may have in your car, so people are not enticed to want to steal it.
Technology might help.
Hart says technology such as remote start can help secure running vehicles.
"So, if you are that concerned about how cold or hot your car is going to get in the five minutes you are in the gas station, there are some technological options there for you," Hart says. "But, leaving your keys in it with it running is not one."
Hart says while it is convenient to keep your car running, it also makes it easier for someone to steal your car.
Dave Hart says with the weather warming up, they are starting to see more thefts in neighborhoods.
"And they go through everybody's cars that are unlocked," Hart explains. "And the number one thing that we see is they're taking guns out of cars, they're taking keys when there are keys, and then they're taking the car."
Hart says people say that if they lock their cars people might break their windows to get in
"Yes, they could do that, you're absolutely right," Hart says. "They're much more likely to do that in a locked car with loot scattered everywhere that you can see from outside."
Hart says at the least people should secure valuables in the trunk of their cars to prevent thieves from breaking into the car and stealing their things.