Where can you find a place where people leave their wallets, purses, cell phones, navigation systems, or cars unattended and ripe for theft? The answer won’t surprise you; it happens every time they pull off the road to get gas or grab their favorite drink from a convenience store and leave their keys in the ignition or their doors unlocked. More and more over the last year, gas station safety has moved to the forefront of crime prevention. The Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) reported a dramatic rise in gas station theft over the past year. In 2006, the MPD reported 89 thefts from vehicles, but it has reported 427 thefts, a 380 percent increase, for 2007. Auto thefts have also risen dramatically—by 93 percent.
Most of the time, gas station customers leave their car doors unlocked. This enables a thief to drive up next to the victim's car, open an unlocked door, and grab any valuables within reach. Then, the thief quickly drives off. It’s a crime of opportunity that takes only a few seconds to commit. For an example, please see this ABC News video.
Gas station thefts can be easily prevented. You can keep from becoming a victim of gas station theft by keeping the following tips in mind.
- Pick gas stations that are well-lighted and have video surveillance cameras at the pump.
- Always remove your keys, close the windows, and lock the doors while you are pumping gas.
- Keep valuables out of plain view in your vehicle and lock the doors even if you are going inside for just a moment.
- Pay attention to your surroundings.
- Don’t let your cell phone distract you.
NCPC and the MPD have worked together to put these important safety tips on a poster that can be placed on the gas pump or convenience store window. In announcing the partnership between NCPC and the MPD on gas station theft, Chief Cathy Lanier of the MPD said, “Too often residents become the victims of crimes of opportunity. We hope that through this educational effort, customers pumping gas or running to the convenience store will think twice before leaving their keys in the car or their windows down.”
Please learn how you can keep these crimes of opportunity from happening to you.
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