2008 Woodie Awards
Key To Prevention: Law enforcement officers suggest ways to keep auto theft down
Maggie Kiely
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: News
"It does help to write the citation because, during the winter time, people go to warm up their car and go back inside, and when they come out, it is gone," Lindley said. "Sometimes those vehicles are then used later to commit some other crime."
Leaving keys in the ignition of an unattended vehicle is a class C misdemeanor and can cost vehicle owner up to $500.
Though Lindley said it is common to see unattended running vehicles at gas stations, he often offers a warning instead of a citation to make people aware of the law.
"It would help keep the stolen vehicles down to a minimum," he said. "What citizens also need to understand is that some insurance companies won't cover the damages of a stolen vehicle if they leave the key in the ignition. It is a leading cause of why vehicles are stolen."
Cpl. Jack Floyd, the Tech Police Department's crime prevention officer, said Tech police do not enforce the law on campus because Tech does not have a major problem with auto theft.
Though Tech police do not patrol campus for keys left in the ignitions of unattended vehicles, Floyd said the act is still illegal and doing so increases one's risk of having his or her vehicle stolen.
"I do it at my house; you just take a chance," he said. "It's cold; I'd rather be in a nice warm car."
Even in cold weather, Anderson said, leaving keys in the ignition to warm up a car is not OK if the vehicle is unattended.
"Take your key," she said. "Over 50 percent of the cars stolen in Texas had the keys in them - usually in the ignition. People think they're safe, but they'll steal them right out of the drive way. No neighborhood is safer than another."
Anderson said some insurance companies have had to raise rates to compensate for stolen vehicle claims.
"When they pay a claim, it gets passed on to their other customers," she said.
A typical auto thief can strip a car for parts in 30 minutes or less, Anderson said, and drug addicts always are looking for ways to get money.
"They're looking for quick sells, anything they can sell - CDs, laptops, even change - anything they can use to get dope," she said.
Leaving keys in the ignition of an unattended vehicle is a class C misdemeanor and can cost vehicle owner up to $500.
Though Lindley said it is common to see unattended running vehicles at gas stations, he often offers a warning instead of a citation to make people aware of the law.
"It would help keep the stolen vehicles down to a minimum," he said. "What citizens also need to understand is that some insurance companies won't cover the damages of a stolen vehicle if they leave the key in the ignition. It is a leading cause of why vehicles are stolen."
Cpl. Jack Floyd, the Tech Police Department's crime prevention officer, said Tech police do not enforce the law on campus because Tech does not have a major problem with auto theft.
Though Tech police do not patrol campus for keys left in the ignitions of unattended vehicles, Floyd said the act is still illegal and doing so increases one's risk of having his or her vehicle stolen.
"I do it at my house; you just take a chance," he said. "It's cold; I'd rather be in a nice warm car."
Even in cold weather, Anderson said, leaving keys in the ignition to warm up a car is not OK if the vehicle is unattended.
"Take your key," she said. "Over 50 percent of the cars stolen in Texas had the keys in them - usually in the ignition. People think they're safe, but they'll steal them right out of the drive way. No neighborhood is safer than another."
Anderson said some insurance companies have had to raise rates to compensate for stolen vehicle claims.
"When they pay a claim, it gets passed on to their other customers," she said.
A typical auto thief can strip a car for parts in 30 minutes or less, Anderson said, and drug addicts always are looking for ways to get money.
"They're looking for quick sells, anything they can sell - CDs, laptops, even change - anything they can use to get dope," she said.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Anitasaythis
Anita Harrison
posted 1/30/08 @ 10:43 PM CST
When I've got items in my car and I know that I'll be stopping somewhere to shop, I stop my car a few blocks before arriving and place those items in the trunk. (Continued…)
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