Theft Alert: Empty Running Cars Targeted in Cascade

An empty car running in an unmanned driveway is an easy target for a break-in and thefts are in the rise in the Southwest Atlanta area, Atlanta Police said Wednesday.

Considering time as a factor, a thief does not know how long it will be before someone walks to the car, so it is actually easier to steal it, Zone 4 Police said.

In the last seven days, the area has had 34 auto thefts, according to Captain B.G. Cavender, a  Zone 4 Assistant Commander. All crime statistics for the city are available at: www.atlantapd.org.

The City of Atlanta had 99 thefts in the same time period--five of those thefts with victims who said they were warming their car approached by an assailant.

So, what can residents do to stay warm in their cars?

Officer Kim Y. Jones, a spokesperson for the Atlanta Police Department, offered the following tips:

1. Warm your car in your garage if possible. Remember to raise the garage door slightly to allow fumes to escape.

2. If you have more than one key start the car and lock your door.

3. Bundle up and sit in your car.

4. Keep personal items, such as laptops, cell phones, iPads and other personal technology out of sight. This decreases the temptation factor slightly.

Inclement weather has increased the amount of thefts but it is not the cause, police said. When the weather becomes favorable it is still best to be in the habit of being careful.