CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Car thefts are a crime on the rise in Albemarle County and, increasingly, the perpetrators are juveniles.
Albemarle County Police Cap. Michael Talbert said 32 vehicles were stolen in the county in the first five months of this year. Nine vehicles were reported stolen in May and in most of those cases, the suspects were juveniles, some taking advantage of owner negligence, he said.
“There was one vehicle where the owner left the key in the car and it was stolen. Then they left their key again and it was stolen again,” Talbert said. “So, we are really encouraging folks to please, take care of your valuables, because in that vehicle, you’ve got an untrained driver who is hyped up having a lot of what they consider fun in the late night, early morning hours. They could be endangering any number of people who are out walking, running going to work, doing whatever they’re doing, going about their business, by just not being a skilled driver in that stolen vehicle.”
Talbert said the relatively young age of the offenders in many of the car thefts is a reminder that the entire community has to work together to head off those types of crime.
“This is a community issue. Whether its stolen vehicles or violent crime, we all have a part to play in this,” Talbert said. “Whether we’re coming from the clergy, we’re coming from the schools, we’re coming from mental health, we’re coming from mentorship athletics, any part of that facet is here to try to support these kids.
“Get early intervention as soon as possible so we can not only reduce the motor vehicle thefts but the violence. Kids really don’t have a true grasp on how impactful this momentary five minutes of aggression or four minutes of aggression can cost you fifty years of your life.”
July is “Vehicle Theft Awareness Month” in Virginia.
ACPD is encouraging residents to always lock vehicles, secure firearms and to never leave the keys in a vehicle regardless of whether you live in a low traffic rural area or an affluent neighborhood.
Talbert said most vehicle thefts are not committed with force. They are opportunistic crimes. The more secure vehicles are, the less likely they will be tampered with.
Talbert said that wealthier neighborhoods are more attractive for car thieves.
“With burglaries and property crimes of this nature, motor vehicle thefts, you’re gonna go where you get the most bang for your buck,” he said. “So, if you’re going to go into a low income area where there isn’t going to be as much resource allocation for you to take from, you’re going to go to those places where you’re going to find there is a more abundant supply of wealth to take from.
“You’re going to have nicer cars, nicer things in the cars, computers, iPad, guns, things of that nature and in the more rural areas, I understand people leave their doors unlocked their guns in their car or their valuables in their car because they need them as an implement tool that their working on their property. Still, we really encourage those folks to take the time, lock the doors secure the weapons, secure your things and be vigilant about what’s going on.”
