Stop making things easy for car thieves

Another police department -- this time, KCPD -- is begging the public to stop being morons. Specifically, they're asking folks to stop leaving their cars running unattended. (They're probably worried this will be a problem again with the big storm rolling in and people wanting to warm up their vehicles.) From KCPD:

From Nov. 1 to Dec. 18, 2009, one-fifth of cars stolen in the city had been left running unattended. The problem is the worst in the southern part of the city. Nearly 40 percent of stolen cars in the South Patrol Division were taken when they were left running unattended. In Metro Patrol, that number was about 28 percent. KCPD crime analysts believe those numbers are even higher because some victims are too embarrassed to report that they’d left their car running.

The bulk of the thefts happen when drivers leave their car warming up in their driveway, but many have happened at convenience stores. Victims think they can pop quickly into the store but then come out to find the car they left running stolen.

If not getting your car stolen isn't enough motivation, remember that leaving your car running unattended is also a ticketable offense in Kansas City.

Comments

[Chuck McRizzo]

No I'm drunk it is your fault to leave your car running unlocked. Sorry a cop can't be at every place at all times.

My neighbor had this happen to him and even he said it was his own fault.

[You're a Mean Drunk R2D2™]

Maybe they should focus on the drunks on I35 instead of trying to find stolen cars from those stupid enough to leave their car running unattended. Remote starters aren't all that expensive folks.

[Chuck McRizzo]

yes I'm drunk it's the cops fault that people are morons and start their cars, leave the keys in the ignition and fail to lock them. Yep sounds like the cops fault. When you fall down drunk do you blame the cops, when you lose your job for being drunk on the time is that the cops fault to?

[Searching]

James, I am telling you... some people just can not be taught.

[AH]

Now to teach hubby that the law means locked as well as unlocked cars.

[CMB]

But, why is it okay for someone to take your car while it is running...it isn't their vehicle....why is is that you cannot leave your car running in Kansas City...why is it okay to take something that does not belong to you? Tell me that? A ticketable offense??? It's not the cops fault...it's OUR fault for not dealing with thieves....sad state of affairs....