Jul 11, 2012 | News
Local Alabama police provided an insight on the surge of car theft rates in the state. It turns out local residents have been very lax about their car security, even going as far as leaving their car running whenever they do a quick stop at various shops. Sergeant Johnny Williams of the Birmingham police was quoted saying, “With the extremely cold temperatures, we have had a number of vehicle thefts as a result of citizens allowing vehicles to run in an effort to warm the car while the vehicle is unattended,” “In a large number of cases, citizens leave their keys in their vehicle as they go into a convenience store to make a purchase or pay for gas. Remember, ‘This is not Mayberry!'” As a result, the Birmingham police released helpful tips that can help prevent car theft incidents: Never leave your vehicle running and unattended while in your home or in a store. This has become one of the most common forms of stolen vehicles. Park in a well lit area at night or when shopping. Equip your vehicle with an anti-theft device. Close all windows and lock all doors. Keep your tag number and vehicle identification number in your wallet. Don’t leave valuables in plain view. Don’t leave GPS mounts attached to windows. After shopping, don’t leave packaging of expensive gifts in the front of your residence for garbage pick-up. If possible, break down the packaging and place it in garbage bags or cans. You can also transport packaging to area land fields for disposal. Help spread awareness in your city With this knowledge in...