Tips on how to prevent vehicle thefts | Maple Valley Police Department

What you should know about vehicle thefts:

The estimated total value of vehicles stolen nationwide is more than 4.3 billion. Only 52 percent of vehicles reported as stolen are recovered. Nearly 74 percent of all motor vehicles reported stolen are passenger cars. In the United States, a motor vehicle is stolen every 44 seconds. More than half of thefts occur in areas where vehicles are parked without attendants. Nearly half of the thefts are due to driver error like leaving keys in the ignition or leaving doors unlocked.

Tips:Whether you leave your car for a moment or for several hours always lock it and take the keys with you.

Never leave your vehicle with the engine running.

Keep the car and house keys on separate rings.

Never hide an extra key under the hood or underneath the car.

Never have an identification tag on your car key ring.