This past week in Oxford, six people reported items being stolen from their vehicles, and police said thefts like these could have easily been prevented by the push of a small button.
Specifically, the button that locks your vehicle.
‘Lock your cars and always store your valuables inside your house,? urged Village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski.
When people think of a vehicle break-in, they conjure up images of a shifty-eyed person armed with locksmithing tools and clad in black.
But all six of these thefts happened because the owners left their vehicles unlocked, making them easy prey for thieves who didn’t have to work very hard to score their ill-gotten goods.
From Sept. 17-22, the thefts took place at residences on State Street, Beaumont Court, Woodleigh Way, Lakes Edge Drive and Oxford Lakes Drive (where two thefts occurrred).
Among the items stolen were two GPS devices, a DVD player, a satellite radio, a cell phone, sunglasses valued at more than $100 and almost $400 in cash.
Neymanowski said that since Oxford’s crime rate is low, some people take things for granted. They assume their vehicle and its contents will be safe and don’t bother to lock them up.
An unlocked car loaded with valuables is practically an engraved invitation to thieves.
Because these thefts occurred in areas sandwiched together in a region just east of M-24, near East Lakeville Road and in close proximity to Oxford Lake, Neymanowski said it’s more than likely these thefts (particularly the ones involving Oxford Lake Drive, Woodleigh Way and Lakes Edge Drive) could have been committed by the same person(s).
The chief added that this type of crime is as simple as nonchalantly walking past a car and trying its doors to see if any of them are open.