The Cedar Rapids Police Department urges the community to be more cautious and lock their vehicles to prevent theft. | Pixabay
The Cedar Rapids Police Department urges the community to be more cautious and lock their vehicles to prevent theft. | Pixabay
This year, Cedar Rapids Police Department has reported a nearly 50% increase in motor vehicle theft, uncovering a disturbing trend of increasing crime relating to vehicles in the community, according to a city press release.
Though it is clear that this is an issue on the rise, underlying data suggests that this is an issue that can somewhat be solved by taking basic precautions and educating members of the community to help decrease risk factors and avoid situations that are likely to end in vehicle theft.
About 60% of these thefts are crimes of opportunity, occurring when the owner of the vehicle leaves their car unlocked and/or running. To prevent these crimes and lower the amount of resources that must be spent to investigate them, the police department is asking vehicle owners to be more cautious and to lock their doors without leaving their car running unattended. This, the Cedar Rapids Police Department has speculated, should help to slow the occurrence of these crimes.
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