Springfield police urge residents to lock vehicles as car thefts rise

ajc.com

The Springfield Police Division is urging residents not to leave their vehicles running unattended as car thefts have increased as temperatures have dropped.

The division has seen as many as four cars stolen in one day last week, Sgt. Dan Harris said. As a result, motorists should remain in their car while it’s warming up and shut off the engine when they step out.

“At this time of year as the weather gets colder, people tend to warm their cars up in front of their home or leave the motor running while the driver goes into a gas station on uses an ATM,” Harris said. “The problem is that others take advantage of the opportunity to steal cars.”

To decrease the chance of theft, drivers should not leave the car running unattended, leave the keys in the vehicle or fail to lock the vehicle when it’s parked.

To report a non-emergency vehicle theft, contact Springfield police at 937-324-7685. In the case of an emergency, call 9-1-1.

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