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For most, the holiday season inspires acts of giving; but when it comes to cars, this is apparently the season for taking as well. According to recent news coverage, Spokane police have registered reports of more than 42 vehicles being stolen in the city of Spokane since Monday, November 27, and at least seven of those had been left unattended with engines running to warm up. Needless to say, vehicle thefts in Spokane County are high this time of year.
The good news is that there are a relatively small number of suspects committing a large proportion of car thefts in our region, so taking a few of these suspects off the street can make quite an impact in the number of vehicles stolen. Believe it or not, the recent snowfall in our area actually helped in the arrest of one suspected car thief because police were able to follow the suspect’s footprints in the snow. Two additional car theft suspects were booked into Spokane County Jail last week, based on investigative work performed by the police.
In case you’re wondering what types of vehicles these thieves are targeting, here’s the "Top Ten" list published by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (www.nicb.org), including year, make and model:
- 1995 Honda Civic
- 1989 Toyota Camry
- 1991 Honda Accord
- 1994 Dodge Caravan
- 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500
- 1997 Ford F-150
- 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup
- 1990 Acura Integra
- 1988 Toyota Pickup
- 1991 Nissan Sentra
So what can you do to prevent your car or truck from being stolen? One of the best things, of course, is to keep it locked. Another is to not leave it running unattended. Even if you have a manufacturer-installed security system in your vehicle, you should not leave it running on the street or even in your driveway with no one inside. It only takes minutes for someone to break a window and drive away in your nice warm car!
If you leave your vehicle parked outside overnight, the NICB suggests investing in several layers of security protection -- especially if you own one of the theft-prone make or model vehicles listed above. One suggestion is to install a visible deterrent like a steering wheel lock, alarm or other type of disabling device in a vehicle already protected with a security system. The more layers of protection you have, the more difficult it will be for someone to steal your vehicle.
And don’t think you’re safe if the type of vehicle you drive did’nt make the "Top Ten" or is several years old. Sometimes consumer attitudes about preventing vehicle thefts are based on misconceptions that can lead to expensive consequences for the unprepared victim. Here are a few myths reported by The Better Business Bureau of Eastern Washington, Idaho and Montana in a recent press release:
- Most thefts occur in unprotected areas
- Stolen vehicles are usually found
- Insurance always provides a rental car
- Anti-theft devices are easy to install, and
- Thieves are not interested in older vehicles
To learn more about these myths and how you can better protect your vehicle, click through to The LocalBBB release in our Press Releases. To give us your perspective on the problem of stolen vehicles in our area, either take our poll or send us your comments. We'll publish your comments here on our Hot Topics page.
From the Editor
Editor@Spokane.net
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Poll Results ...
Question:
"Vehicle thefts in Spokane County are high this time of year. How would you rate the risk of your vehicle being stolen?"
Results:
Not at all likely -- 40.0%
Somewhat likely -- 40.0%
Very likely -- 0%
My vehicle WAS stolen -- 20.0%
Don't own any vehicles -- 0%
Send us your comments ...
We’d like to know what you have to say about this week’s Hot Topic. Send your comments to Editor@Spokane.net, and we will post them here. Be sure to include this week's Hot Topic title in the reference line of your email.
If you have suggestions for topics you would like to see discussed in Hot Topics, email us.
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