Idle thoughts
Local car theft fact of the day, from an Albany Police Department press release: "Almost half of vehicles stolen in the City of Albany were left unlocked." The APD is warning people to not leave leave their cars running unattended this winter. Because someone else might drive off with it. Also, not mentioned by the APD, but worth noting: an idling car is an inefficient car.
APD: Motor Vehicle Theft Awareness
As the cold weather approaches, The Albany Police Department is reminding drivers to "Take Your Keys With You!"
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States every 26.4 seconds, leading to 1,192,809 motor vehicles being stolen last year. Many vehicles are stolen at locations such as convenience stores, gas stations, and ATM's. Many are stolen as a result of drivers leaving their vehicle running unattended or leaving the keys inside.
The Albany police would like to offer the following prevention tips in regards to stolen vehicles:
+ Never leave your vehicle running unattended, even if it's only for a few minutes. This includes warming it up due to inclement weather.
+ Always lock your vehicle. Almost half of vehicles stolen in the City of Albany were left unlocked.
+ Don't hide a second set of keys in your vehicle.
+ Park in attended lots or well lit areas.
+ Invest in Anti-Theft devices such as a remote car starters, alarm systems, or ignition kill switches.
Leaving you vehicle running unattended does not only put you at risk of having your vehicle stolen, it is also against the law. Those who leave their vehicle running unattended are subject to a traffic summons under 1210 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.
Comments
People who are stupid enough to leave their cars running and unlocked deserve to get them stolen. So dumb!!
... said Jenn on Dec 5, 2012 at 3:30 PM | link
You could also be sued for negligence if someone hits someone else with your stolen car. Not wise.
... said ktvorwald on Dec 5, 2012 at 4:51 PM | link