Theft From Automobiles Increase In Warm Weather: West Whiteland Police

CHESTER COUNTY, PA —West Whiteland Township police said the township is experiencing an increase in thefts from automobiles with the warmer weather.

Police provide these tips to help prevent thefts:

• Lock Your Doors: A majority of car break-ins and thefts are from unlocked cars. Even if you are parked in front of your house, in your driveway, or inside your garage, lock your doors. Criminals like to walk down the street and see if a car is unlocked, if it is they open the door and take whatever is visible and move on to the next target. However, if the door is locked, they are more likely to move on.

• Secure Your Vehicle: Roll your car windows up all the way and engage the car alarm, but do not depend on it as the only way to deter a thief. A car thief can break into your car and be out in about 30 seconds, fast enough that an alarm doesn't scare most of them away.
• Keep Your Vehicle Tidy: Thieves like to window shop. Avoid leaving anything visible in the car. Almost any item that's visible from the outside - even if you think it is worthless - could be seen as valuable to a thief. Your spare change, sunglasses, even an empty bag could appear valuable in the mind of a thief.
• Conceal All Proof: Put your electronics and accessories well out of sight, or just take them along with you. Items such as power cords, adapters, and GPS windshield suction-cup mounts are interesting to thieves.
• Stash Before You Park: Get in the habit of putting items you want to be hidden in the trunk of your car before you arrive at your destination. Thieves will linger in busy parking lots looking for you to stash your valuable items. Park in a busy, well-lit area and avoid concealment from larger vehicles, fences, or foliage
• Avoid parking in isolated and poorly-lit areas.

Report Break-Ins If you see a break-in in progress, call 911 immediately.
Provide the 911 dispatcher with as much information as possible including these facts:

• An address: A block number, or specific location in a parking lot.
• Description of the suspect: Provide as much information as you can, including sex, race, age, height, weight, hair color and length, color, and length of facial hair, colors and style of clothing, and identifying marks such as tattoos and piercings.
• Direction: If the suspect flees, give the direction of travel. If they flee on a bicycle or in a vehicle, describe the color, make, model, and license plate number.