Vehicle thefts rise as temps cool

MOSES LAKE — As the weather gets chillier and residents are tempted to preheat vehicles and leave them unattended, both the Othello Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office released statements cautioning people against doing so because of potential vehicle thefts.  

“If you have a vehicle and you don't have a remote start feature on the vehicle, where instead you have to go out to the car, put the key in the ignition, start the vehicle, and then leave the key in the ignition with the car running to go back in the house while the car warms up,” GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said. “If you have to do that, then you're at the risk of someone coming by and seeing the opportunity to steal the car.”  

According to Foreman, Grant County has seen 244 stolen vehicles from Jan. 1 to Nov. 14. Foreman also said the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs reported that around 54,000 vehicles have been stolen in Washington State this year.   

“I don't know if it’s the case here, but frequently, auto theft rings are run by organized crime, so they make huge profits. It's an industry that's driven by money and greed,” Foreman said. “But we also have people here who are stealing the vehicle just so they can have a vehicle for transportation for a distance they didn't feel like walking, and then they abandoned the car. Or there are people that steal the car, joyride the car and dump it in a canal or park it in a remote orchard and light it ablaze, so there's no evidence of who took the car.” 

Foreman said law enforcement sees vehicles stolen one of three ways usually – the person didn’t lock the vehicle, and the suspect hot-wired the car; the person left the keys in the vehicle and the suspect drove the car off with ease; or the suspect breaks the window and hotwires the car.  

“First thing is make sure you lock your car and take your keys with you,” Foreman said. “If there seems to be someone lurking around your neighborhood or lurking around the parking lot – checking windows to see what's inside the car, report that to law enforcement so that the potential thief can be contacted to find out what they're doing. Watch out for your neighbor's property too.” 

Not only are there vehicle thefts but GCSO sees a lot of vehicle prowling. 

“Anecdotally, it seems as though people are breaking into cars to steal the property that's inside the cars,” Foreman said. “Thefts from vehicles are reported every day, and to help prevent thefts from vehicles, we encourage people to take all their property out of the passenger compartment of their car and either take it indoors with them or lock it in the trunk.” 

Othello PD said they have also seen an increase of these types of vehicle prowls, according to a statement from the department. OPD recommends precautionary actions such as always locking the vehicle and not leaving the keys inside, keeping valuables out of sight or taking them with you, and not leaving a vehicle running – especially with the keys inside. The department said if any suspicious activity is observed to contact OPD at 509-488-3314. 

According to national data, the Hyundai Elantra is one of the most commonly stolen vehicles. Local authorities have said this is in part because of what is known as the “Kia Boyz Challenge.” The social media challenge shows people how to take advantage of a design flaw in Kia and Hyundai vehicles that allows cars to be easily started even without a key by disassembling the steering column. To protect against this sort of theft, using devices like “The Club,” a security system, or parking in a closed garage is recommended. 

“Winter is a special time, just because people are specifically starting their cars and leaving their keys in the ignition and wait for the cars to warm up,” Foreman said. “So, it is a perfect opportunity for people to walk by and take advantage of that and take a vehicle.” 

Theft prevention tips:

1. Park in well-lit areas
2. Secure your vehicle
3. Conceal valuables
4. Never leave keys in a vehicle
5. Do not leave your vehicle running 

If your vehicle is stolen: 

1. Immediate reporting of theft: if your vehicle is stolen, report it to law enforcement as soon as possible. NICB data indicates that 34% of stolen vehicles are recovered on the same day as the theft and 45% are found within two days.   

2. Notify your insurer: contact your insurance company after filing a police report, as insurers often require this documentation to process claims.   

3. Prepare essential vehicle information: be ready to provide details such as the make, model, color, license plate number and VIN for an effective report.   

SOURCE: National Insurance Crime Bureau