MASON CITY – NIT has received word that auto thefts are on the rise in the city over the last few weeks.
Checking with the Mason City Police Department, officer Mike McKelvey has confirmed that November was particularly busy with auto theft reports.
“So far, we have 29 reported auto thefts for 2012,” McKelvey stated. “We had 9 in November 2012. Typically we average 1-2 per month.”
McKelvey said one basic mistake is the reason many of these cars are stolen.
“Most auto thefts are a crime of opportunity. In the majority of these cases, the keys to the vehicle were left in the unlocked car,” McKelvey said. “Other cases involve some vehicles lent or borrowed to people who did not return. I believe most of the November auto thefts could have been prevented if the owners / possessors would have removed the keys from the vehicle.”
McKelvey also offered some more good advice for protecting vehicles from being stolen.
“This (theft of vehicles) occurs in parking lots, city streets, driveways, and in garages / car ports. Our preference would be that people do not leave their keys in their cars and do not leave them in a key bowl or on a visible key rack inside their home near their back door or window. Simple target-hardening concepts could reduce a lot of the victimization as far as car thefts are concerned. I cannot remember the last time we had actual hot-wire or a punched ignition.”
Finally, McKelvey said this time of year (colder weather) may invite criminals or give them an opportunity to take your car.
“Our thefts will usually increase a little when people start warming up their unattended cars with the doors unlocked. The unseasonably warm weather and lack of snow / ice may delay this usual increase that is due to winter weather.”
Clear Lake Police Chief Greg Peterson said Friday that his department had “not noticed any increase this year. We did have a semi trailer stolen from Serta with 180 mattresses inside a couple weeks ago.” Peterson said the mattresses have not been recovered.
All the cops around here are idiots. They are too busy doing nothing in a parking lot talking to other pigs. I was pulled over one time and it was for window tint. Apparently window tint is the top priority in this town. Not crime or the idiot drivers.
Odd. The only time I have been pulled over in MC was for window tint, also. Factory installed BTW. My son, too, in his car. I thought it was a coincidence. It is starting to seem like a “thing”. My husband however must just get off work at the right time to get pulled over on 12th St a couple times a month for a light out or going 26mph or a different light out OR and this is my favorite, he touched the middle line twice in 3 blocks. There was nobody coming toward him and the officer had his brights on in his rearview mirror. I guess that is reckless driving at 12:30am.
@WoCoMom-You have Worth County plates which they think means drugs or drunk so they pull you over for any reason just to check you out.
Typical sugar coating by MCPD why not add the 6 stolen from area car dealers to the 9 in November?