(VIDEO: Watch this SUV get stolen in under 60 seconds from Intervale Place (between Milton Avenue and Midland Avenue). It was later recovered in Newark, New Jersey.)
It’s pretty simple:
- Lock your cars
- Keep personal property out of view
Rye PD has sent this message repeatedly to residents, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears.
In the last 28 months*, 71 vehicles have been stolen from resident’s driveways. All the vehicles were unlocked with the keys left inside. An additional 55 (unlocked!) vehicles had property stolen.
In the last seven weeks (since March 11th), 11 vehicles have been stolen.
The vehicles stolen from Rye residents have been used to commit crimes in other jurisdictions. The cars have been recovered from Hartford, Connecticut to Newark, New Jersey. The suspects have proven they will not stop when a traffic stop is initiated – witness what happened in front of Fogama restaurant.
In a statement Monday, Rye PD urged residents “Please lock your car doors and remove the key or key fob from your vehicle. Take personal property inside out of view. This year we have had four vehicles stolen in broad daylight on two separate Sunday afternoons. In video obtained the subjects are usually dressed in black from head to toe with their faces covered and wearing work gloves.”
Taking a few common sense steps will keep our officers and community safe.
*Our original report said 16 months. We regret the error.
Time for Rye City to enact a fee for each case of automobile theft involving an unlocked and/or keulys-inside car. % of blue book value might do the trick faster than any “educational” effort for getting car owners to change their behavior.