Vehicle Burlgaries - Crime Prevention

Vehicle Burglaries often occur at night when we are all tucked in safe and sound in our beds. Burglars hope you’re sound asleep and don’t hear them quietly opening an unlocked car door or reaching in an open window or truck bed to help themselves to your items! In the first seven months of 2017, there were 1345 Vehicle Burglaries in Mesa which is an increase of 75 (6%) over the same time frame in 2016. Of those 1345, approximately 62% (833 vehicles) were left Unsecured! If valuables had not been left in the vehicles and they had been secured, windows up, doors locked, we could have seen a decrease in this crime. Please be sure to Take Your Keys, Remove Your Valuables, and Lock Your Doors every time you leave your vehicle, even for only a moment.

Vehicles being Stolen (Vehicle Theft) often occurs due to an unsecured vehicle as well. An unsecured vehicle with the Keys left inside (even if you think you’ve hidden them well) creates an easy target. In Mesa in the first seven months of 2017, there were 496 Stolen Vehicles! This is a 10% increase over the same time frame in 2016. Although the theft of Secured Vehicles rose by 15%, the theft of Unsecured Vehicles also increased by 45%. Vehicles Stolen with the Keys left in them increased by 2%. Please use layers of protection to secure your vehicles. Park in Your Garage or a Well-Lit Area, Take Your Keys, Use a Steering Wheel Lock, Close All Doors and Windows Completely, Confirm ALL Doors are Locked, and Set Your Alarm. Never leave an unsecured or running vehicle unattended – not even for “a minute”. Don’t forget to enroll your vehicle in the Watch Your Car Program with the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority at: https://aata.az.gov/programs/watch-your-car It’s one more layer of protection!

Do your part in helping the Mesa Police Department and the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority put an end to Stolen Vehicles and Vehicle Burglaries!