From Decatur Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee sends in this advisory…
The Decatur Police Department issues this advisory to owners of older model Honda and Toyota vehicle owners. Older model Honda and Toyota vehicles have remained the most stolen vehicles nationally in the past several years. The year models most stolen are 1990 to 2000. Since January 1, 2012, fourteen (14) Honda Civics and Accords have been reported stolen in the City of Decatur. Most of these vehicles have not been recovered. An additional six (6) Honda vehicles have been entered with the intent to commit a theft. The lack of recovery leads investigators to believe these vehicles are being dismantled for their parts or scrap metals. Similar reported theft rates have been reported by other law enforcement agencies in the metro Atlanta area. Most of the thefts have occurred in residential areas at night.
Owners of these types of vehicles are being advised to take additional steps to secure their vehicles. Possible prevention tactics include securing these vehicles in locked garages or parking them in driveways, blocked in by other vehicles. All residents are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior to the Decatur Police Department.
Yes!! On 7/1/11, my 1999 Honda cr-v was stolen and wound up in a Henry co chop shop. Then 2 weeks ago, my 2004 Honda cr-v had the catalytic convertor stolen from underneath. Both times parked in my driveway outside my fence in Oakhurst, on a corner lot, street light directly across the street from drive, and I have a motion light for the gate. My neighbor on the other side saw a suspicious person at 4:20am, called police, and it was stolen anyway. Would appreciate any ideas on how to fight the crime. I’ve asked neighbors to leave their porch lights on, but was told “that’s not environmentally friendly”.
You can’t do anything about it. You’re ‘Khurst! (If I keep saying it, it will eventually catch on, I just know it 🙂 )
Seriously, though, is it common around here for people to sacrifice the security of porch and other outdoor lighting in order to save a small amount of energy? Isn’t decent exterior lighting one of the best ways to deter burglars and other ne’er-do-wells?
Luving the ‘Khurst!
First off Zephir, sorry to hear about your two issues with your Honda. We have discussed stolen cars at our monthly crime meetings and we have recognized that various Hondas of certain years were being stolen. I talked with Deputy Chief Lee earlier this week and we decided to put something out to let the community know what has been occurring. I am glad that you responded and want to know what you can do to assist. I would say look at exterior motion activated lights, if you own more than one car park the Honda in first and park your second car closely behind it to make it harder for someone to drive it out. I believe Hondas are front wheel drive so by parking the car front first instead of backing it in may make it harder for someone to take if they are stealing them by use of a tow truck. Also if you have a garage and it can be utilized park your vehicle inside. If you do hear something in the night outside pay close attention and call us just as soon as you hear it. We will respond quickly and in a quiet manner and lastly be good neighbors by looking out for each other. Again thanks for replying and hope this information is useful…….. Mike Booker City of Decatur Police Chief
I’ve asked neighbors to leave their porch lights on, but was told “that’s not environmentally friendly”.
CFC lights use a minimum of power and last a long time. The small extra cost of the electricity is minuscule compare to the loss or damage of an automobile. Law enforcement will tell you that light is a thief’s worst enemy.
Stealing a car is not particularly environmentally friendly either.
I leave my porch lights on and in on the back of the house have a few floodlights that stay on all night. cfl bulbs in the porch lights and cfl floodlights in the back. pennies a year.
Is it true that if the car is more than 10 years old they don’t have to present a title to crush it?
Tammy- I think they still need a title- I sold my car to a guy at the impound lot- he needed the title in order to take the car off of my hands.
My Honda Civic 2000 Si got stolen from right in front of our door in a condo complex right at the edge of downtown Decatur. The car was completely gutted for the engine. There was no evidence of breaking and entering, which means that there was probably a master key in their possession. Make sure you do NOT give away your mailing address to car mechanics- even if they claim to mail out ‘coupons’. The theives in this case were so careless that they left a bag of pvc piping the bought from the local Home Depot on Lawrenceville highway, and left the receipt in the bag. We’ll see whether the investigator will find something interesting or not.
A few years ago, O.W.L.S. (Oakhurst Watch, Local Safety) did a campaign encouraging people to leave their porch lights on at night to deter crime. It really does help the neighborhood feel more secure and makes thieves feel more vulnerable. I’ve had my front porch light on a dusk-to-dawn switch for several years and can detect no difference in my electricity consumption (even in the winter — the light burns more hours but the overall power bill is lower because of gas heat, so I’d expect to see it then, if ever). On the other hand, keeping the thermostat set higher so the a/c runs less DOES make a difference (and I’m sure it more than makes up for the extra juice used by the porch light). Sure would like to think all those environment-conscious neighbors are at least doing that much.
What would be the cost of installing a GPS tracking system in a car?
I put The Club on my elderly Accord every night—does this device deter theft at all, especially if the miscreants have a flatbed towtruck? It’s always in the driveway, parked nose-in. No garage, and our other car is a Civic. Sigh.
Guy at the repair shop said cars like mine are taken for the sunroof and airbags.
The Club may deter a casual thief, but in reality, while The Club is difficult to cut through, the steering wheel you clamp it to is easy to cut. Ten seconds with a bolt cutter to notch the wheel and junk The Club.
Props to DPD for sending a cruiser down our street last weekend when I called to report a suspicious vehicle. When I made a similar call to APD years ago, the dispatcher laughed at me.
Hmm… Maybe we can get an episode of Bait Car filmed in Decatur.