Press Releases - March 2008

March 18, 2008

PRESS RELEASE
PGPD Warns: “Don’t Be an Easy Target”

Prince George’s County, Maryland....Prince George’s County Police Chief Melvin C. High said hundreds of GPS systems, portable DVD/TV monitors, airbags, catalytic converters, handbags, tools and tags are being targeted by criminals, with the result that theft from automobiles is outpacing auto theft.
  
“Our launch of the Department’s ‘Project Overdrive,’ – our 50 % Property Crime Reduction Initiative – will only reach its full potential when citizens and residents consistently take the necessary precautions to protect their automobiles and the valuables inside,” said Chief High.
 
The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) index shows total motor vehicle thefts in the county last year as 9,943, down significantly in both 2006 and 2005. “We are very pleased with the reduction in auto theft, but we still see cars warming up in driveways or running with keys in the ignition at convenience stores, coffee shops and dry cleaners,” said Major Robert Liberati, Commander of the Auto Crimes Unit.
 
And, although UCR does not report theft from auto separate from other thefts, the Department recorded 11,938 thefts from auto last year – nearly 2,000 more than auto thefts. So far this year, motor vehicle theft is down 15.4 percent – 1,838 reports compared to 2,172 this time last year, while thefts from auto has increased 19.2 percent – 2,586 reports compared to 2,169 reports last year.

“We will tackle these thefts by working with the community just as we did with auto theft,” said Chief High. “The message to our citizens, residents and neighborhood and community leaders is: Don’t Be an Easy Target. Making a habit of a few simple precautions significantly reduces the chances of citizens becoming a victim of either auto theft or theft from auto,” he said.
   
High said that each District Station’s Community Response Team (CRT) officers work closely and continuously with community partners, strengthening and building crime prevention programs such as “Neighborhood Watch” and “Watch Your Car.”
 
In District VI, which has seen a spike in theft from autos, Major Dwayne Preston said, “Educating our citizens is the best opportunity against these two property crimes. My citizens have lost 43 GPS systems, 20 airbags, 11 catalytic converters and other personal items. Thieves know cars are easy targets; we just have to be more careful.”

Motor Vehicle Safety precautions:
  
• Remove all personal items from plain view;

• Wipe away GPS windshield mounts – thieves target vehicles with these markings;

• Record the serial numbers of portable devices to aid tracking in PAWN shops;

• Always lock your car and take the keys – don’t leave your vehicle with the engine running.

“Our goal is to reduce last year’s motor vehicle thefts and thefts from auto by 50 percent. That alone would reduce total property crime by over 30% and that’s a goal that is entirely within our reach,” said Chief High.

For more information, call the Prince George’s County Press Information Office at (301) 772-4710.