Car theft in Hollister is up 50 percent this year compared to
2004, and with the cold weather months approaching police warn that
statistic could jump even higher as thieves troll for vehicles left
unattended by lackadaisical motorists.
Hollister – Car theft in Hollister is up 50 percent this year compared to 2004, and with the cold weather months approaching police warn that statistic could jump even higher as thieves troll for vehicles left unattended by lackadaisical motorists.
Last year, the department tallied 102 auto thefts total, but car thieves have been busy in 2005 and that number is already at 118 from January to September this year, according to Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller. The department recorded 78 car thefts from January to September in 2004, he said.
And due mainly to heedless motorists often leaving the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked, the only thing missing is a neon sign attached to the hood flashing a veritable invitation for thieves to hop in and take off.
“The biggest contributor to the problem has been people who continue to let their cars warm up in their driveways or leave the keys with the car when they’re at the store,” Miller said. “For some there’s a perception that it’s a small town so nobody would take it from over here, especially on my cul-de-sac (for instance). In some cases it’s laziness.”
And according to department statistics, before the year’s over more residents may become victims of car theft. In 2004, there was a 57 percent increase in October over September, and while November showed a decrease over the prior month, it skyrocketed in December with a 75 percent increase over November, Miller said. The 14 car thefts in January of 2005 showed a 100 percent rise over December’s seven stolen vehicles, he said.
Hollister’s auto theft epidemic also doesn’t discriminate against new cars or old, nice cars or junkers, and no one part of town is a hot spot over another, Miller said.
While the statistics appear alarming, Miller said preventive tactics such as remaining vigilant and paying attention are simple and effective.
“If you have to warm your car up, take your cup of coffee or hot chocolate and stay with the car,” he said. “That’s the biggest deterrent – if you’re with your car. And lock your car if you’re not standing right there with it.”
While the department was unable to provide recovery rates for stolen vehicles, thieves do a variety of things with their purloined prizes, Miller said.
Some may sell the cars to chop shops for parts, such as one operating out of Watsonville police recently busted, Miller said. After the bust it was discovered one of the cars was stolen from Hollister, he said. Others may sell the cars in other cities, other states or even other countries, and still others use the stolen cars simply as transportation around town, he said.
“Even I caught an auto thief. The car had been stolen earlier that afternoon,” he said. “It had been in a place where the suspect had gone looking for a job and found the car with the keys in it and was driving around and had a car load of friends.”
If keeping tabs on your ride doesn’t work out and your car is stolen, Miller said it’s much easier for patrol officers to spot a stolen car if it has both the front and rear license plates attached. Spotting a white Honda or black Toyota while driving in the opposite direction is much easier when the front plate is in view, he said.
“People discount the value of that front license plate,” he said. “If your car is stolen you want us to be able to find it as easy as possible.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
