BLPD: Bonney Lake Neighborhood Car Prowls are Crimes of Opportunity

After experiencing an increase in local car prowls, Bonney Lake Police urge residents to remember Rule Number One of personal safety and security: lock your doors and secure your belongings.

“We’re experiencing a rash of car prowls. People are going from neighborhood to neighborhood trying door handles and breaking into unlocked cars,” said Bonney Lake officer Todd Green. “Lock your doors, turn on your lights at night. Call 9-11 if you see anything suspicious and please, bring your valuables inside.”

Green told Patch that a majority of the vehicle prowls are a crime of opportunity – residents aren’t locking up their vehicles at night. The south side of Church Lake Road experienced 10 car prowls in the last two weeks.

While the Church Lake neighborhood should be on high alert, these break-ins are happening in neighborhoods all over the city.

Along the SR 410 business corridor, forced vehicle prowls are more common, said Green. Smashed windows and stolen item leave evidence behind that helps detectives catch the perpetrators. The difficulty police are running into with the neighborhood break-ins, said Green, is that there are no signs of forced entry and there are no witnesses.

“Right now, we have no leads to go off of,” said Green.

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If you see something, say something. Take notice of suspicious vehicles in your neighborhood and be able to visually describe them or jot down the license plate number, if you can.

In addition to locking your cars, take valuables inside the home. Officer Green said many residents have had their checkbooks, debit cards, electronics and GPS devices stolen from their cars, with no signs of forced entry. Also, do not leave your garage door opener inside your car – that can give criminals direct access to your home.

Park your car in a well-lit area or keep your porch light on. Most criminals are wary of breaking into a car if it appears that someone is home.

Call 9-11 or Bonney Lake Police at 253-863-2218 to report any strange activity.