Crime Alert from the 8th Division

The Louisville Metro Police have noted a recent increase of theft from auto reports. The most recent crime trend occurred in the Foxboro Manor subdivision during late night hours. Please take a moment to review and remove valuables from your car. A little extra effort will help us help you.

Please read the prevention tips we provided below. Remember Break-in to Auto's is one of the most reported crimes in the 8th Division and we do not want you to be the next victim. Lock your car and secure all valuable items. If you see a suspicious person or car in your neighborhood call us immediately at 574-2111.

Break-in to Auto Prevention Tips

Security

Doors and windows ... Lock the doors, windows, boot and sunroof every time you leave your car - no matter how briefly. Ignition key and immobilizer.. . Take the ignition key out even if the car is parked in your drive or in the garage . Always set the immobilizer. Follow this routine when filling up with petrol or going to the store. If you do not have an immobilizer consider having one fitted or using some type of security device that you will use. They only take a few seconds to set and could make all the difference.

Valuables

Valuables and other possessions... Never leave them on display. Your old coat on the back seat may be worthless, but a thief won't know that. He may break in to see if you've left money or cards in the pocket. Remember the cost of replacing a broken window is often far more than the value of the goods stolen. If you can, take your belongings with you. If you can't, lock everything out of sight in the trunk.

Never leave any of the following in your car...

checks, credit and debit cards.

driving documents and personal correspondence. They could help a thief sell your car or provide a cover story if stopped by the police.

mobile telephones - 40 per cent of car-break-ins involve the theft of a mobile telephone.

receipts featuring details of credit or debit cards. Always be careful where you discard credit or debit card receipts.

Remember Break-in to Auto’s is THE BIGGEST ISSUE OF CONCERN in the 8^th Division.

Stereos, etc

Radio, cassette, CD, mini-disk and MP3 players... Always remove these if you can. Whether removable or not, all sound equipment (including speakers) should be marked both visibly and permanently with the vehicle registration number. Make a note of the serial numbers and keep them in a safe place.

When driving ... Keep valuables out of sight and consider keeping all doors locked and the windows closed. Thieves have stolen handbags, laptop computers, mobile telephones and other valuables by opening car doors or even breaking windows while cars are stationary at traffic lights or held up in slow moving traffic.

Parking ... If you have a garage, use it. And remember to lock it. More than half of all car thefts happen while the car is parked at home.

Remove garage door openers if the vehicle is being left out over night. Several Burglaries have resulted in entry being made through the garage door and found that the garage door opener was used in these crimes.

What to do if your vehicle breaks down

Before leaving the car, check your location, review your resources and decide on a plan of action. Remember staying safe is the priority and the best course of action will depend on the location, time of day and - most importantly - your instincts.

Consider the following points:

In isolated spots you could stay in your locked car overnight.

If you're a long way from a telephone or house, you could flag down a passerby then get back in the locked car and talk through a partly opened window. Ask the motorist to call for help at the next available telephone, and provide the following details in writing: your name, car make and model, registration and breakdown recovery membership numbers, and your exact location.

Wait in a secure place - the locked car, a nearby shop or similarly populated area. Tell the person you have called for help where you will be waiting.

If you seek assistance at a nearby house, knock and stand back from the door. Ask the occupant to call for help on your behalf. A slip of paper with your details (name, car make and model, registration, breakdown recovery membership number) and your location would be helpful.

Parking Lots When away from home always try to park your car in a well-lit, open location. Thieves target parking lots. A quarter of all recorded car crime happens in parking lots. When parking in a public lot try to find one that is well supervised, with restricted entry and exit points, good lighting and security cameras. Avoid dark corners.

Remember, the ultimate security for your auto relies on you the owner.