An unpleasant surprise greeted an Independence Township man as he headed to work recently.
There, in his own driveway, someone had smashed a window out of his car overnight and walked off with his stereo.
The kicker?
The car wasn’t even locked.
‘I want people to understand the things they leave in cars are not safe, period,? said Sgt. Matt Baldes of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Township substation. ‘If you leave your GPS or satellite radio where people can see it if they come up and look in your car, it’s going to get stolen. If you leave your laptop, cell phone, iPod or CDs in the car, they’re going to get stolen.?
Although larceny from automobiles (LFA) is not a new phenomenon in the area, police say thieves are increasingly unabashed’over the last several weeks, deputies have responded to a significant number of calls from residents reporting smashed car windows and missing items.
‘It’s a sign of the economy,? said Baldes. ‘Desperation is making people more and more brazen.?
Up until recently, he explained, it was much more common for police to get reports of property stolen out of cars that were left unlocked overnight’prowling thieves who encountered a locked vehicle simply moved on to another car at another home.
Recently, however, thieves don’t hesitate about using a rock or other heavy object to get what they want.
‘People have a false sense of security and think that just because they lock their doors it’s safe,? Baldes said. ‘We’ve had a few LFAs where the doors of the car were unlocked. People aren’t waiting, they just smash the window and grab your stuff.?
The crimes, he said, have occurred both in the daytime and at night, as well as in places like church and school parking lots, even at the video store when a car was only left of five or ten minutes.
Reports have also come from apartment complexes, upscale subdivisions, and rural back road areas across the community.
Baldes was careful to point out, however, that the crime is not specific to the Independence Township area.
‘This is not a crime ridden community,? he said. ‘It’s happening here, but it’s also happening in the communities that surround us.?
Baldes also said it’s important for members of the community to talk to one another and spread the word.
‘Neighbor needs to tell neighbor,? he said. ‘The community needs to talk, subdivision associations need to talk’we had a few reports of someone hearing a car alarm in the middle of the night and just blowing it off. Neighbors need to talk to neighbors.?
Police are on the lookout, as well, he said.
The township has two designated patrol officers, and they’ve been directed to respond to LFA calls and also serve as a ‘perimeter car? so they can look for suspects leaving the area when a recent LFA is reported.
Meanwhile, the best defense for residents, Baldes said, is to take proactive measures and to bring items inside. Otherwise, he recommended placing valuables in the trunk, center console, or covering them with a coat.
‘It’s such an easy thing to do,? he said. ‘Don’t leave an open invitation’take your radio receiver in the house. Don’t leave laptops. People will break your windows to steal loose change, digital cameras, golf clubs, skis, purses, anything. Be proactive.?
Keeping track of serial numbers is also important, he said. When items are reported stolen, police enter can serial numbers into a computer tracking system to not only help recover lost items, but also to help find criminals when they try to sell the items.
Baldes also encouraged residents to report every incidence of the crime; sometimes, he said, deductibles discourage people from reporting such a theft to their insurance companies. But, he explained, the reports are still help police gather evidence and develop patterns.
To report a crime, call 248-858-4950. Anyone with information on the recent LFAs is asked to call 1-888-TURN-1-IN.