Salem Police Warn Residents Of Rising Vehicle Property Thefts

Salem MA

09 November, 2021

12:36 PM

Description

SALEM, MA — Salem police are warning residents to keep their vehicles locked while unattended at night after an increase in the number of vehicle property thefts reported in recent months. Police said of the 83 thefts reported in 2021, 37 of them have been reported since Sept. 1. "In the overwhelming majority of these cases, the vehicle owner had neglected to lock their vehicle," police said. Police said those looking to steal things will often target unlocked vehicles where valuables are visible. The thieves will often hit one neighborhood and move from vehicle to vehicle checking for unlocked doors — often committing multiple thefts in one night. Recently, Marblehead police have reported similar neighborhood-target theft sprees. "These incidents typically occur during the overnight hours and are not reported until the next morning when the owner recognizes that property is missing or out of place," police said. "The items most commonly taken from vehicles include cash and small change, mobile phones, GPS systems, credit and or debit cards, wallets and purses." Salem police said with the holiday season approaching there is likely to be an even greater risk of theft from an unlocked and unattended vehicle. Any residents that see suspicious behavior are asked to report them to Salem police at 978-744-1212 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. Residents are asked to call the police first and not confront anyone might be in the middle of committing a crime. "Please report any incident where you believe someone has entered your vehicle without permission," police said. "Signs of unauthorized entry include the glove box left open, items strewn about the vehicle, seats moved, etc. "If you believe your vehicle has been unlawfully entered notify police as soon as possible." Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.) More Patch Coverage: New Rash Of Marblehead Overnight Car Break-Ins