With the hot weather, some drivers may leave their windows open or vehicles running while they go inside somewhere. Police warn that more than half of stolen vehicles either were unlocked or had the keys in the vehicle.
The Michigan State Police and Michigan’s Automobile Theft Prevention Authority want to remind people that when they are not with their vehicle, lock the doors and roll the windows up.
According to the MSP, a vehicle is stolen every 44 seconds in the U.S. Half of those thefts are because the door was left unlocked or the keys were in the ignition.
To lessen the chances of auto theft, police recommend parking in a well-lit area or garage if possible; keeping exterior house lights on during the night; having a theft deterrent device like a steering wheel lock or gear shift column lock; and avoid leaving valuables in the vehicle, especially in a place where they can be seen.
