Thefts from vehicles a problem that can easily be deterred

Guymon, Oklahoma, March 11, 2010- The Guymon Police Department has taken several reports of thefts from vehicles over the past few weeks and according to Chief Eddie Adamson this is a crime that can easily be deterred. “Our officers have responded to several locations where a person is reporting that someone has gone through their vehicle and stolen some items and in most of those cases the vehicle had been left unlocked by the owner or there was no sign of any forced entry. We consider most of these crimes to simply be a crime of opportunity where a criminal tries to open the vehicle and if it is unlocked they get in the vehicle and steal things and if it is locked they simply move on.”

In the last month the Guymon Police Department has taken seven reports of thefts from vehicles without any sign of forced entry and one vehicle theft where the owner had left the vehicle unlocked and running while it warmed up.

“We are not blaming the victims for the crime because the blame lies squarely at the feet of the criminal but with help from citizens we know the number of crimes of this nature will go down by simply making it harder for them to get into the vehicles,” Adamson added.

Theft from parked cars is one of the most common complaints received by police in residential neighborhoods. According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, these types of crimes make up some 36 percent of all larcenies reported to the police. Thefts from vehicles usually involve small dollar values in terms of the property stolen, but they take up considerable police resources and increase residents’ fear of crime according to a report published by the Center for Problem Oriented Policing.

The Guymon Police Department is still investigating the recent thefts from vehicles and anyone with information is asked to call the department at 580-338-6525 or call the Texas County Crimestoppers at 580-338-8593 to provide an anonymous tip.