Unlocked Cars Easy Prey for Criminals: Police

Lock your car, people. 

At this point, it might sound like police are playing a broken record. But as long as people keep leaving their cars unlocked—making them easy prey for opportunistic thieves—they'll keep playing it.

Moorestown Police investigated the theft of a Volvo station wagon from a North Washington Avenue driveway last week. Police said the vehicle—which was unlocked—was stolen sometime overnight Friday.

It was later recovered in Trenton, though police were not yet sure in what condition it was in.

Lt. Lee Lieber said thefts and burglaries to vehicles "overwhelmingly" involve unlocked cars. Stolen vehicles are more of a "toss-up," he said, but the Volvo that was lifted last week was unlocked, with the keys left unsecured somewhere nearby. 

There were 23 motor vehicle thefts in Moorestown last year, and four in the first half of 2013, according to the latest statistics from the state's Uniform Crime Report.

"Bad guys will look for an unlocked vehicle rather than go to the trouble of breaking into a car," said Lieber. "We can avoid the majority of these thefts if people lock their vehicles."

Also, don't leave spare keys or valuables in your vehicles.

Report suspicious activity immediately to the police at 856-234-8300. For crimes in progress, call 911. 

You can also follow the Moorestown Police Department on Twitter at @Moorestown_PD for emergency information.