Lots that generated the most theft reports in the past year
1. Planet Fitness/Mattress Firm, 1501-1503 N. Bechtle Ave. - 8
2. Walmart, 2100 N. Bechtle Ave. – 6
3. Holiday Inn Express, 204 Raydo Circle - 6
4. Comfort Suites, 121 Raydo Circle – 5
5. Quality Inn and Conference Center, 383 E. Leffel Lane – 5
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More than one car a day is broken into in the city of Springfield on average and many of the thefts occur along the city’s major shopping corridors.
A Springfield News-Sun analysis of theft reports from September 2014 to now show 430 car break-ins during that time period, with two of the top spots on Bechtle Avenue and the others along Leffel Lane.
Thefts from vehicles are high on the list of most-reported crimes in the city, said Sgt. Brian Peabody of the Springfield Police Division’s property crimes unit.
“It’s what the suspects or thieves feel is an easy target,” Peabody said.
Car break-ins in Springfield, like many other crimes, often are concentrated in specific areas of town. But like any crime, Peabody said it happens across the city.
Many of the crimes are preventable, he said, and residents can take easy steps to protect themselves.
Quick grabs
Of the break-ins from the past year, 26 of them took place in parking lots along busy North Bechtle Avenue.
“I’ve heard stories from friends or other people that those lots can be trouble,” said 19-year-old Lainey Ward of Springfield as she packed up her purchases into her car parked in the WalMart lot.
The parking lots adjoining Planet Fitness and Mattress Firm, and the WalMart lot on North Bechtle topped the list of most reported thefts from cars.
Calls to those businesses seeking comment weren’t returned.
Hotels along East and West Leffel Lane rounded out the top five most reported locations — Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Suites and the Quality Inn and Conference Center.
A high concentration of cars in one area draws in potential thieves, Peabody said.
“They’re always looking for a quick grab, like currency, coins or people’s credit cards,” he said.
Jill Snyder of Urbana regularly shops at WalMart and said she was surprised to hear it was one of the hot spots for car thieves in the city.
“You always see people in the lot,” she said.
But thieves are brazen, Peabody said, and often aren’t afraid to strike in a busy lot.
“It’s worth it to them to take that chance to get a little bit of money,” he said.
The time of the day thieves are committing the crimes also shows they will strike whenever there’s an opportunity.
The News-Sun analysis showed that more than half of the 26 thefts reported along North Bechtle Avenue occurred between noon and 8 p.m.
That’s the time of the day when most people go out to run errands, Peabody said, and thieves catch on to that.
“Sometimes they’re hanging around already but we’ll also see where they’ll go just lot to lot when the lots are busy,” he said.
Three of the crimes happened between 8 p.m. and midnight and only one between midnight and 8 a.m.
At the hotels, Peabody said thieves might be attracted by travelers who leave valuables in their car while spending the night at the inn.
Some hotel managers along Leffel Lane warn overnight guests to be aware of the possibility of thefts.
“Especially on weekends when it is busy,” said Laura McNeil, assistant manager of the Holiday Inn Express.
Prime targets
Some drivers might not believe that something minuscule to them — like loose change in their cup holder or a cell phone power cord — could make them a prime target for thieves, police said.
But the reports show many thieves take such small items.
When a burglar can see items is when they are most likely to break into a car, said Mary Bonelli, spokeswoman for the Ohio Insurance Institute.
Common items reported stolen to insurance agencies are cell phones, laptops, briefcases, backpacks, small electronics, wallets or purses and packages, she said.
“It’s amazing what people are desperate for,” Ward said. Some of her friends or family members have had their cars broken into for similar items.
In recent years Springfield police have seen an uptick in reports of charging cords being taken from cars, Peabody said, possibly because the thieves can trade them to drug dealers.
“They’ll take anything they think they can get a little bit of drugs for,” he said.
The damage done to a car during the crime is often more costly to the car owner than the items stolen from their vehicle.
“There’s not a problem for thieves to just break somebody’s window,” Peabody said.
Broken windows, door damage, broken door locks or any other miscellaneous damage that occurs during a break-in would be covered under comprehensive auto insurance coverage, Bonelli said.
But comprehensive coverage is optional, she said, and not every car owner selects it.
Deductibles also typically apply to a comprehensive claim. Many people have $500 to even $1,000 deductibles, Bonelli said.
“If your loss is close to your deductible, it may not be worth filing a claim,” she said.
And many people don’t know that the items stolen from a car aren’t covered by car policies, she said, but rather by homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
Prevention
Drivers can take simple steps to protect themselves, experts said.
The first tip may seem obvious, but the theft reports prove many people don’t do it — lock your doors.
Keep cars free of clutter and don’t keep valuables in plain sight, police said.
“A tidy car doesn’t draw as much attention,” Peabody said. “Thieves aren’t going to wonder, ‘Is there something valuable under that jacket?’”
Even things as small as not storing loose change and putting away a phone charger could deter a thief, Peabody said.
He also suggested parking in well-lit areas with more foot traffic.
Carol Stewart, the front desk manager of the Comfort Suites will sometimes tell guests to park in front of the hotel, where their cars can be seen from the front desk.
Hotel staff members also regularly monitor surveillance video of the lots and walkways, Stewart said.
The ebb and flow of car break-ins fluctuates throughout the year, according to police data.
“You see a lot of repeat offenders,” Peabody said.
When those repeat offenders are caught and put in the county jail the crime might slow down, he said.
But many thefts are charged as misdemeanors and only result in time in the county jail. With the ongoing issue of jail overcrowding, Peabody said many times those men and women are on the streets again soon after and committing the same crimes.
But the more people work to protect themselves, he said, the less opportunity those thieves have.
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