Simple steps can prevent car theft

HIM WITH INJURIES AND DEATH .

IT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 9th.

THE FRONTIER FLIGHT LEFT

LaGUARDIA AIRPORT IN NEW YORK

HEADING TO ORLANDO.

>>> AFTER YEARS OF DECLINE, CAR

THEFTS AND BREAK-INS APPEAR TO

BE SURGING IN CITIES AND

SUBURBS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

ACCORDING TO THE WILL COUNTY

SHERIFF

OFFICE THERE WERE 55

BREAK-INS JUST LAST MONTH UP

FROM 38 IN THE SUMMER.

POLICE SAY CAR OWNERS CAN TAKE

STEPS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

5 ON YOUR SIDE AND KEELY ARTHUR

SHARES HOW.

>> Reporter: CONCEPTS NOT JUST

DANGEROUS FOR POTENTIAL VICTIMS

BUT ANYONE IN THE WAY OF A

STOLEN VEHICLE.

RECENTLY WE TOLD YOU ABOUT A

DANGEROUS INCIDENT INVOLVING

STOLEN CARS.

ONE OFF OF CAPITAL BOULEVARD IN

RALEIGH FOR A MAN DRIVING A

STOLEN CAR IN EARLY FEBRUARY.

IN JANUARY, THE DRIVER OF A

STOLEN VEHICLE CAUSED ANOTHER

CRASH INVOLVING MULTIPLE CARS

ON RALEIGH BOULEVARD.

MORE THAN 870,000 CARS WERE

STOLEN IN 2020.

NUMBERS FOR 2021 CAR THEFTS

LIKELY WILL NOT BE ANY BETTER.

THE CONSUMER REPORT SAYS TAKING

SMALL THEFTS CAN MAKE YOU LESS

OF A TARGET.

>> I LIGHT THAT TURNS ON

AUTOMATICALLY IF ANYONE

APPROACHES YOUR GARAGE CAN

REALLY BE EFFECTIVE IN SCARING

AWAY POTENTIAL THIEVES.

>> Reporter: IF YOU PARK ON THE

STREET, TRY PARKING UNDER A

STREET LAMP.

THAT WAY IT WILL BE LIT AT

NIGHT.

I KNOW THIS IS AN OBVIOUS ONE

BUT PLEASE, KEEP KEYS WITH YOU

AND MAKE SURE TO LOCK YOUR CAR.

>> IF YOU LEAVE YOUR KEY IN THE

VEHICLE AND IT IS UNLOCKED, IT

IS AN OPEN INVITATION.

>> Reporter: YOU ALSO COULD

HAVE A PROFESSIONAL INSTALL AN

AFTERMARKET ALARM SYSTEM OFTEN

INCLUDING A VISIBLE BLINKING

RED LIGHT.

THOSE BIG CLUNKY STEERING WHEEL

LOCKS?

POLICE SAY THEY WORK BECAUSE

THEY MAKE YOUR CAR LOOK HARDER

TO STEAL.

CONSUMER REPORTS SAY ANTITHEFT

DEVICES WORK AND HAVING ONE MAY

SAVE YOU AS MUCH AS 50% ON YOUR

CAR INSURANCE.