The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Thefts from vehicles have tripled in the city so far this year compared with last, and conspicuously-placed GPS units are catching bandits' eyes, police warned Tuesday.
In some of the roughly 800 cases reported this year, victims have reported thousands of dollars worth of items disappearing from parked vehicles.
Norfolk is the only city in South Hampton Roads to report such a spike. Portsmouth saw a more modest 7 percent increase over the same period, and other local cities reported decreases in the crime.
Police Chief Bruce P. Marquis cited the "growing prevalence of high-cost electronic gadgets such as GPS systems, laptops, iPods and the like" in urging residents to be cautious. He said cell phones, purses and other items also were disappearing.
Marquis said police are stepping up patrols in harder-hit areas but did not identify specific neighborhoods. He said parking lots and parking garages have been popular hunting grounds for thieves lately but that the crimes occur in residential neighborhoods as well.
According to police, the hardest-hit areas last year included downtown, the Ghent area, Park Place, the Colonial Place area and Wards Corner.
Thieves often break windows to grab gadgets, adding to owner's headaches.
The best defenses, Marquis said, are simple measures: locking doors, leaving nothing in plain sight, taking valuables with you or putting them in the trunk, parking in well-lit areas and keeping a vehicle "clutter-free."
Police recommended placing GPS devices out of view when not in use.
"I can go through any parking lot and see the GPS s out there," said Sgt. W.A. Beigel of the crime prevention unit. "They're prime targets."
Police also recommended removing tell tale mountings.
Likewise, police recommend that chargers and headsets be kept from view in parked cars.
Marquis couldn't say what accounted for the increase. He noted, however, that thefts of vehicles are up too, for the first time in several years, and warned residents to keep their cars locked and secured as well.
Matthew Roy, (757) 446-2540, matthew.roy@pilotonline.com
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ethan
I agree totally 100% with you. If the crooks knew there was a chance they were going to get shot while breaking into a car or a house crime would more than likely go down. I also think there should be public hangings for being convicted of identity theft. All the felons get are a few nights in jail with Bubba and a jar of vaseline.. We wouldnt last a second during jury selection....
Uhmp
But I think my stereo *is* worth more than your life if you want to take it from me. If someone does get shot and killed while trying to steal something from me, that is fine by me. The stereo is paid for with hours of MY life, something I can't get back. I only get so many. I see someone else stealing from me as someone taking life from me. Our gov't has no problems sending kids to die to benefit corporations their friends run and profit heavily from, you can't tell me all human life is more valuable than property, our "leaders" don't think so.
Old fashioned solution for new crimes
Install pillories in every area experiencing high crime and USE THEM.
Folks here have stated that it is our own fault for leaving valuables in OUR locked cars parked on OUR own property....Its time to recognize the problem for what it is, and mete out punishments sigificant enough to make criminals think twice before stealing others' property. And, if that doesn't work, maybe its time for citizens to use "whatever force is necessary" to detain a criminal caught in the act.
s.j. Apparently it's my fault
s.j.- I think your response misses the point by a mile and also speaks volumes as to why this problem exists.
In our situation, all valuables were left tucked under the seat, out of sight. In fact, no valuables were in sight. Therefore, the car was going to be broken into regardless. The thief got lucky (for a short while).
What really says a lot is your view that I am in the wrong for having the nerve to park in downtown Norfolk. By this view, the criminals are innocent victims of circumstance and the fault is all my own.
Is it any wonder it's out of control??
NEXT
Next thing that will happen is one of the knuckleheads doing all the break ins will get shot and killed and the family will be on the news crying out the police used too much force.
Catering to thieves?
Based on many of the comments here it sounds like you all and the police chief want us to be hindered in our lifestyles to help the poor unscrupulous individuals not be tempted. I think I will start locking up my wife and children so as to not tempt those who would like to get a hold of them also! I bet half the people who state do not tempt these scum bags do not want me to have a gun either to protect myself!
If the law will not handle it "I will"
Stuff more important than people
It is very sad that our police chief will come on TV with his top brass lined up across the screen, and give a speech to address the issue and concerns of those who have lost an Ipod, GPS system, or CD radio. There was a time, in the city of Norfolk not long ago, when there was a significant increase in the murder rate. Mothers and fathers lost their sons and daughters, but there was no police cheif given a speech to address the increase in murders. NO top brass could be seen lined up across a TV screen. There was no news coverage on the bodies that were being found. I wonder, that in the past 5 years, which number is higher, the murders or the stolen GPS Systems? I guest people are not as important as stuff in the city of Norfolk.
I agree with the assessments of keeping valuables out of view
I lived in Park Place for a year. I had a full system - top of line CD player, amps, speakers, subwoofers, but clear windows. My car was never broken into however (98 Mercury Mystique - not a stylish car by any means but not an eyesore either). I took the necessary precautions of not playing my music loud as I came home; msure I detached the face off my radio and TOOK IT INSIDE THE HOUSE; and making sure none of the system wiring was visible. I was robbed at gunpoint back in '04, so from that day forward I remained cautious about bringing unwanted attention.
To the gentleman who recommended tinting your windows. That can help tremendously in making your windows more shatter resistance, thus deterring thieves. Consequently, it also can give the wrong impression from time to time that you're tinting windows to hide something valuable on the inside.
It's a catch 22 either way you look it. The most I can recommend is keeping valuables out of sight and investing in a car alarm if your car doesn't already have one AND DON'T GET COMPLACENT!!
Ohh come on now, I leave my
Ohh come on now, I leave my windows and top down all the time, and have yet to have anything missing when I come back to the car. Maybe if we use alittle common sense when choosing a parking spot, who knows, we may still have everything in the car when we get back to it.
800 ??????????
Why is this police chief waiting until some EIGHT HUNDRED incidences before warning the public? Hell, he might as well wait for the one thousand mark! Another example of indifference about the public welfare in favor of propping up the public image. Can't help but wonder which city council member had their car invaded!