Over the past several weeks, the Frederick Police Department has noted an increase in theft from vehicle cases where the suspect has gained access by breaking car windows. The common theme in these crimes is that a valuable item was in plain view, and a window was broken to gain access to the item. Historically, in the vast majority of theft from vehicle cases, officers note that the suspect entered through an unlocked door or open window. It is less frequent for offenders to break windows, but such a pattern has emerged.
Please take two easy steps to greatly reduce the likelihood of falling victim to a theft from your car:
- Get into the habit of locking your cars at all times. Push the lock button on that key fob one more time before going to bed. An unlocked car is an easy target.
- Remove valuable items such as purses, wallets, electronics from cars as often as possible. If that's not possible, leave valuables out of sight. Unattended valuables attract thieves.
Patrol officers are continuously patrolling through parking lots and residential areas on the look out for crime, but we need your help. Be sure to report suspicious persons or activity as soon as possible by calling FPD at 301-600-2012 for non-emergency matters, or by calling 911 if your observe a crime in progress.
Thank you for helping keep Frederick a safe community!
For more information, contact Capt. Kirk Henneberry at 301-600-6217.