FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – Fort Lauderdale Police have launched a brand new marketing campaign this week to curb the rising quantity of car thefts within the metropolis and surrounding neighborhoods.
Indicators posted on the aspect of roadways all through town on Wednesday ask residents to test for the important thing fobs to their autos.
“It is a prime spot right here as a result of, as you may see, there’s a retaining wall that you could be not be capable of see the suspect automobile pull up,” Fort Lauderdale Police detective Tim Shields stated. “Our suspects would usually drive down the streets like this, after which, you’ll see this subsequent home right here. Here’s a very good Bentley.”
Thieves have focused a number of high-end properties and autos over the previous few weeks.
Cameras captured a Bentley’s aspect mirrors tucked in, which suggests the automotive is locked and safe, however a Porsche parked subsequent to it could be focused as a result of its mirrors weren’t folded inwards.
“The suspect automotive will possibly park out of sight,” Shields stated. “The suspect will stroll up actually shortly, after which, 5 – 6 seconds, they see if the automotive was left safe or unsecure.”
Shields added suspects seek for key fobs left inside the automotive whether it is left unlocked.
John O’Flaherty’s BMW was stolen about two months in the past.
“It was Friday at like three o’clock within the afternoon when it occurred,” he stated. “I noticed it on the digicam on my safety, and so they had been– automotive drives by, stops, backs up. They noticed the mirrors that weren’t folded in. Man jumps out of the automotive. He’s in my automotive, in my driveway, peels out in like 5 seconds.”
Key fob auto thefts have risen not too long ago. In response to police, the crooks steal the automobiles, and inside just a few days, they resell the autos.
“You bought to make contact with what they consult with on the road as a ‘plug,’” Shields stated. “The plug is the subsequent man in line that they’re going to purchase the automotive from that can then, greater than seemingly, re-VIN the automotive and take the method both by means of a salvage title or re-VIN with a fraudulent, bogus VIN quantity and title. Then, that automotive shall be bought on the road to a different particular person.”
Police have made a number of arrests relating to those auto thefts, together with Henry Lee Lewis on Feb. 6, who stands accused of kidnapping, robbing and killing an actual property agent on Feb. 1. When he was arrested, police stated the 15-year-old was caught looking for automobiles with key fobs inside.
“It couldn’t be simpler, and because the little slogan says, simply get in your automotive, ask your self, ‘The place’s your fob?’” O’Flaherty stated. “Don’t take it out of your pocket and safe your automotive, and I simply need to assist anyone else out that’s going by means of this and keep away from it for the long run.”
An increase in auto thefts contributes to an increase in crime price, which can trigger residents’ insurance coverage insurance policies to additionally improve.
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