Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety has investigated twenty seven (27) motor vehicle thefts so far this month, of those thefts; twenty one (21) of the vehicles were taken using the keys to the vehicle. The majority of the vehicles were taken when the vehicle was left running outside or using a key that was hidden inside.
Please follow these tips to prevent vehicle theft:
Do not leave an extra key inside your vehicle, if you have an extra key please lock it up inside your home
Never leave your vehicle running unsupervised and never while it is unlocked, no matter how briefly you will be away from it
If you have a lot of visitors at your home, do not leave your keys where they are easily accessible
When out in public, keep the keys on your person and do not leave them on a table, in a coat pocket, or inside a purse that is left unsupervised
Additionally Kalamazoo City Ordinance specifies that a vehicle left unattended shall have the keys removed from the vehicle (36-165).
Although most stolen vehicles are recovered soon after they are reported, most are used to commit additional crimes and frequently are found with new damage. Please help us reduce these thefts by following the above tips.
Kalamazoo Public Safety is requesting anyone with information about any crimes to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 488-8911, the Criminal Investigation Division at 337-8139, or Silent Observer at 343-2100.
Authority of Lt VanderKlok
