Friday, February 11, 2000
Police work to stem rise in auto thefts
Just locking doors is a deterrent
BY PERRY BROTHERS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It was just a quick delivery, so Gregory Bailey left his keys on the front seat and dashed into the Midland Building downtown. In less than two minutes, his Dodge Dakota was stolen. Within an hour, the red truck was part of a two-state police chase on Jan. 10 that left three people injured.
“I was in the building for maybe a minute and a half and when I came back out the truck was gone,” said Mr. Bailey, 39, of Delhi Township.
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COMMON-SENSE PRECAUTIONS
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To safeguard your car, Cincinnati Police say:
• Never leave your car running or the keys in the ignition when you get out — even “just for a minute.”
• Leaving your car running increases theft risk and is against the law.
• Always close the windows and lock the doors.
• Never leave valuables in plain view, even if the car is locked.
• Buy removable radios, tape and CD players and lock them in the trunk.
• Park in well-lighted areas.
• Don't leave personal identification documents or credit cards in your car.
• Don't hide duplicate keys under the bumpers or fenders.
• When you pay to park in a lot or garage, leave only the ignition key. Make sure the attendant is actually an employee of the parking service.
• Don't leave personal information attached to your keys when you take your car to the mechanic for repairs.
Source: Cincinnati Police
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Auto thefts typically have less dramatic endings, but a slight increase in the number of stolen vehicles from 1998 to 1999 has Cincinnati police on alert.
Reported auto thefts rose 1.7 percent in 1999 to 2,212 from 2,176 in 1998. Cincinnati historically has lower auto theft rates than many other Ohio cities, said Cincinnati Police spokesman Lt. Ray Ruberg.
“We don't want to see those numbers creeping up,” he said.
Drivers can keep those numbers down by exercising a little caution, Lt. Ruberg said. Lock doors and windows when leaving the car, even on quick trips. And never leave the car running — it's illegal and can result in a $36 fine.
“There's a lot of dangers out there that people don't anticipate,” he said.
By leaving his keys on the front seat, Mr. Bailey inadvertently handed over access to his mother's home and two family businesses.
“I was more worried about the keys than I was the car,” he said. After dialing 911, he called a locksmith.
Fortunately, the suspected thief was arrested by Covington police within hours. The keys and the truck were recovered.
The six cars the driver plowed into on his flight from police totaled Mr. Bailey's 1997 truck. As of Thursday, he has a
six-week wait for a new Dodge Dakota.
Mr. Bailey's truck was stolen in District 1, which includes Over-the-Rhine and downtown.
In 1999, that district reported the city's largest jump in stolen vehicles, with an 8.2 percent rise to 330 from 305 in 1998. However, from 1990 to 1999, District 4 reported about 33 percent of the 20,059 vehicles stolen in Cincinnati for the 10-year period. In 1999, that district had only two thefts more than it had the year before.
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