OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Right now is peak season for car thefts.
“We usually have our burglaries in the springtime and summertime, and this is when it usually happens,” Overland Park Police Officer John Lacy said. “People are busy and I understand that, and they're rushing from kids game to shopping to whatever. No matter where you're at, crime has no address.”
That’s why police are advising folks to be alert.
“Just use that little remote just one time,” Lacy said. “See that little lock button? Push it, it works.”
In Overland Park, there were 721 car break-ins in 2016. In 2017, there were 695.
Officers hope to see these numbers decrease even more for 2018.
“I wanted to get ahead,” Lacy said. “I want the citizens to have a jump on these burglars before they come into our community.”
A broken window isn’t a cheap fix either if insurance doesn’t cover it. Prices could range anywhere between $200 to $500, possibly even more.
“When you do take a higher deductible, you are taking more of a responsibility,” Kent Hobert said.
Hobert, who works at Binswanger Glass, said this time of year is a busy one for them and encouraged drivers to take a close look at your deductible.
“It's bad enough that they have broken out of the car and invaded your space,” Hobert said. “Then to know that you're going to have to spend out of your pocket if you have a high deductible that you'll have to spend out of your pocket to make it right.
Be sure to keep your doors locked and keep valuables out of sight.
“It's really easy for a burglar to look inside and if he sees nothing inside your vehicle, he's going to move on; there's no items of interest inside that vehicle,” Lacy said. “But if he sees a briefcase, a purse, a wallet or anything, he's going to feel like hey, maybe there's some value to that.”
Police recommend you not to hide valuables in your car, but to lock them up in your trunk or just take them with you.
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