Approximately 10 times a day, someone is a victim of vehicle-related property crime in Orange County, according to the latest statistics compiled by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Crime Analysis Detail.
From January to June, the department has seen an overall increase in vehicle-related crime in OCSD’s jurisdiction with 1,880 total crimes reported.
Vehicle theft, which means a suspect stole from an unlocked vehicle, accounts for the largest number of vehicle-related crime in the Sheriff’s Department jurisdiction with 892 reported crimes – 309 for grand theft and 582 for petty theft.
There were 508 vehicle burglaries, or using force to break into a vehicle to steal items, and 480 reported stolen vehicles in the six-month period.
There are many things you can do to prevent becoming a victim of vehicle-related property crime:
- Always be sure to lock your vehicles. Before going to bed, make it a habit to double check that your car is locked and your windows are up.
- Never leave valuables in plain sight. If you cannot leave your valuables at home, make sure to stow them under your seat or in the trunk.
- Hide even the seemingly insignificant items. Thieves most often peek into windows to determine whether there is anything of value in the car. Having any items out may signal to criminals there may be something more valuable hidden inside.
- Consider installing an alarm system or an anti-theft device.
If you are a victim of a vehicle-related crime, call Sheriff’s Department dispatch at 714-647-7000 or 949-770-6011. If you witness a crime in progress, please call 9-1-1.
