Nov. 15 — MOSES LAKE — As the weather turns colder and residents are tempted to preheat their vehicles and leave them unattended, both the Othello Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office have issued statements warning people not to this is because of potential vehicle thefts.

“If you have a vehicle and you don’t have a remote start feature on the vehicle, where you have to go to the car, put the key in the ignition, start the vehicle and then leave the key in the ignition. with the car running to get back into the house while the car warms up,” said GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. “If you have to do that, then you run the risk of someone walking by and seeing an opportunity to steal the car.”

According to Foreman, Grant County saw 244 vehicles stolen from Jan. 1 through Nov. 14. Foreman also said the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police reported about 54,000 vehicles were stolen in Washington state this year.

“I don’t know if that’s the case here, but frequently, car theft rings are run by organized crime, so they make huge profits. It’s an industry that’s driven by money and greed,” Foreman said. “But we also have people here who steal the vehicle just to have a vehicle to transport them a distance they didn’t feel like going, and then they abandoned the car. Or there are people who steal the car, they go with joy. car and throw it in a canal or park it in a remote orchard and light it on fire, so there is no evidence of who took the car.”

Foreman said law enforcement officers typically see stolen vehicles in one of three ways — the person did not lock the vehicle and the suspect keyed the car; the person left the keys in the vehicle and the suspect drove off with ease; or the suspect breaks the window and jacks the car.

“The first thing is to make sure you lock your car and take your keys with you,” Foreman said. “If it looks like there’s someone lurking around your neighborhood or lurking around the parking lot — checking the windows to see what’s inside the car, report it to law enforcement so the potential thief can be contacted to find out what they’re doing. go out also for your neighbor’s property.”

Not only are there vehicle thefts, but GCSO is seeing a lot of vehicles prowling around.

“Anecdotally, it appears that people are breaking into cars to steal property that is inside the cars,” Foreman said. “Vehicle theft is reported every day and to help prevent vehicle theft we encourage people to remove all their belongings from the interior of their car and either take it inside with them or lock it in the boot.”

Othello PD said it has also seen an increase in these types of vehicles, according to a statement from the department. OPD recommends precautions such as always locking your vehicle and not leaving your keys inside, keeping valuables out of sight or taking them with you. and not leaving the vehicle running – especially with the keys inside. The department said if any suspicious activity is observed, contact OPD at 509-488-3314.

According to national data, the Hyundai Elantra is one of the most frequently stolen vehicles. Local authorities said this was partly due to what is known as the ‘Kia Boyz Challenge’. The social media challenge shows people how to take advantage of a design flaw in Kia and Hyundai vehicles that allows the cars to be easily started even without a key by disassembling the steering column. To protect yourself against this type of theft, it is recommended to use devices such as “The Club”, a security system or park in a closed garage.

“Winter is a special time, just because people start their cars and leave their keys in the ignition and wait for the cars to warm up,” Foreman said. “So it’s a perfect opportunity for people to come through and take advantage of that and pick up a vehicle.”

Tips for preventing theft:

1. Park in well-lit areas

2. Secure your vehicle

3. Hide valuables

4. Never leave keys in a vehicle

5. Do not leave the vehicle running

If your vehicle is stolen:

1. Report Theft Immediately: If your vehicle is stolen, report it to law enforcement as soon as possible. NICB data indicates that 34% of stolen vehicles are recovered on the same day of theft and 45% are found within two days.

2. Inform your insurer: contact the insurance company after filing a police report, as insurers often require this documentation to process claims.

3. Prepare essential vehicle information: Be ready to provide details such as make, model, color, license plate number and VIN for an effective report.

SOURCE: National Insurance Crime Bureau