Newtown Police Remind Residents To Lock Their Car Doors

NEWTOWN, PA—Officers with the Newtown Township Police Department are reminding residents to keep the doors to their vehicles locked at all times.

Police said they've recently investigated several thefts from unlocked vehicles that have occurred during the night in both Wrightstown Township and Newtown Township.

"Please get in the routine of locking your cars to avoid becoming a victim of theft," officers warned on their official Facebook page.

There were an estimated 773,139 thefts of motor vehicles nationwide in 2017, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Nearly $6 billion was lost nationwide to motor vehicle thefts that year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly half of all vehicle theft is due to driver error. The top two months for vehicle thefts are July and August.

When parking and exiting your vehicle, the NHTSA suggests:

• Take your key; don't leave it in or on your vehicle.
• Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
• Park in well-lit areas - in a garage, if possible.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle, and specially in sight.