BPD alert to protect your car from thieves this winter

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The cold weather is here and Birmingham police say car thefts tend to increase during this time.

Many people leave the car running to warm up or stay warm, and Officer Truman Fitzgerald says thieves are alert and will take advantage of any opportunity. Sometimes stolen cars still have the key in the ignition.

“Someone left the car running, whether it was to run into the house or into a store, and in a split second someone jumped in their car and drove away,” said Truman Fitzgerald, BPD Asst. Public Information Officer.

The good news is that car thefts in Birmingham have fallen by 16% since the start of the year. A year ago there were 1,653 thefts. So far in 2024 we are at 1,388.

Fitzgerald explains that these numbers also include cases involving “unauthorized use of a vehicle.” This means that a friend or family member may have borrowed a loved one’s car for too long and the owner reported it.

“We would like to emphasize to all Hyundai and Kia owners that thieves are still in their sights due to security vulnerabilities in Kias and Hyundais, and we urge you to immediately obtain an anti-theft device, such as a steering wheel lock, for your vehicle,” Fitzgerald said.

He shares that the device alone can deter a criminal from touching a car because they look for the easiest targets that cause the least amount of trouble.

“Suspects commit even worse crimes in stolen cars, such as robberies, violent assaults and even murder,” he added. “In many of our most horrific murders committed in Birmingham, the suspects drove stolen cars.”

If your car does get stolen, a small, relatively inexpensive device could help you get it back quickly.

“In September, we had great success with a vehicle owner placing an Apple Air tag in their car and hiding it,” Fitzgerald said. “Unfortunately, his vehicle was stolen and we were able to recover it within a few hours because he was actively tracking his vehicle because he had a $30 Apple flight tag hidden in his car.”

Fitzgerald warns you to hide valuables such as purses, wallets and gifts in the trunk if they must remain in the car.

Otherwise, take them with you. Especially weapons. He says you should never leave a gun in your car. Oftentimes, that’s what these criminals are looking for.

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