Over the last several weeks thieves have targeted a number of neighborhoods in our community for what is known as “car-hopping.” Car-hopping occurs when criminals roam neighborhoods at night, pulling on car door handles, hoping to find an open vehicle.
Police officials say it’s a numbers game. For every 10 cars a criminal checks, they know they’re going to find at least a couple open, so there’s no need to physically break a window or door lock to get in.
In fact, nearly 100 percent of the reported break-ins in Wake Forest involve unlocked vehicles. Therefore, there’s little to no evidence to support the idea that not locking your doors is a good idea because a thief might cause more damage to your locked vehicle if they decide to break in.
Our message is simple: You can significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim by simply locking your unoccupied vehicles at all times, removing your valuable items and any extra set of keys from the vehicle, and double-checking to make sure your car is locked before going to bed at night. If an item can’t be removed, then it’s best to make sure it is out of sight to potential crooks looking for an easy target.
Making sure Wake Forest is a safe place to live and work requires the cooperation of the Police Department and the town’s residents. To report suspicious behavior or activity, call 9-1-1 or 919-556-9111.
