CRIME TRACKER: Lock your car door or someone will try to get in
RICHLAND – KEPR learned that car prowls are on the rise in Richland.
Pete Steach is one of many victims who has had things stolen from his car.
"I got an electronic lock system after that,” says Steach. "They mostly took change, they tried to get the stereo out of it, they also took a lighter and an empty pack of cigarettes.”
Car prowls increased by more than a third between 2010 and 2011. They jumped from approximately 23,000 to 35,000.
It got worse in the last couple months of the year.
In November and December of 2010 there were 720 cars prowled in Richland.
In 2011 that spiked to more than 1,000.
"It's a crime of opportunity they'll just walk up and down streets, they pick one neighborhood walk up and down the streets and try to find a door handle that's open, once it pops open they'll go through it and go on to the next one very quickly.” Says Captain Mike Cobb.
Pete says he was lucky to not have lost other valuables that meant something to him.
Even though he feels safe in the area where he lives he says you can never be too careful.
"Never keep anything in your car that’s more expensive than a window,” says Pete.
Richland Police say there is not a single part of town that's considered a hot spot for trouble because prowlers are hitting all corners of the city.
But officers will continue to hold weekly meetings to look at crime trends.
Pete Steach is one of many victims who has had things stolen from his car.
"I got an electronic lock system after that,” says Steach. "They mostly took change, they tried to get the stereo out of it, they also took a lighter and an empty pack of cigarettes.”
Car prowls increased by more than a third between 2010 and 2011. They jumped from approximately 23,000 to 35,000.
It got worse in the last couple months of the year.
In November and December of 2010 there were 720 cars prowled in Richland.
In 2011 that spiked to more than 1,000.
"It's a crime of opportunity they'll just walk up and down streets, they pick one neighborhood walk up and down the streets and try to find a door handle that's open, once it pops open they'll go through it and go on to the next one very quickly.” Says Captain Mike Cobb.
Pete says he was lucky to not have lost other valuables that meant something to him.
Even though he feels safe in the area where he lives he says you can never be too careful.
"Never keep anything in your car that’s more expensive than a window,” says Pete.
Richland Police say there is not a single part of town that's considered a hot spot for trouble because prowlers are hitting all corners of the city.
But officers will continue to hold weekly meetings to look at crime trends.
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