 "Photo: Richard Bowie | Chronicle Photo")
San Bernardino County is ranked fifth in the nation for having the most vehicles stolen in 2009, according to a report released last month by LoJack.
LoJack Corporation, a company that deals in stolen vehicle recovery technology, ranked Los Angeles as the top county in the nation for vehicle thefts and recoveries. Riverside Country came in at No. 7, boosting California to the top of the nationwide list.
In the past year, 16 cars have been stolen on the CSUSB campus alone, most of them stolen out of Parking Lot D, located in front of University Hall, according to Lieutenant Walter Duncan of the San Bernardino Police Department.
According to Duncan, the most frequently stolen vehicles have been late '80s and early '90s Toyota Camry and Honda Civics and Accords.
“These vehicles have been targeted because of the ease in which they can be stolen,” Duncan said.
According to CHP Lt. Steve Urrea, commander for the San Bernardino County auto theft task force, the parts are so similar for Hondas, thieves are motivated by being able to swap them out.
Patrick Clancy, vice president of Law enforcement for the LoJack Corporation said that stealing older model cars remains a big business for organized crime rings which often strip vehicles and sell the parts for three to four times the overall value of the vehicle.
“We’re also seeing sophisticated thieves go after newer vehicles," Clancy said. "As they’ve found ways to outsmart the theft deterrents, such as disabling GPS tracking devices and vehicle immobilizers.”
The Cadillac Escalade was the fifth most-stolen and recovered car in Los Angeles County last year and ranked fifth in the nation.
According to the San Bernardino Sun, new vehicles become common targets for car thieves, but their appeal tends to diminish with time.
Lincoln Navigators, PT Cruisers and even Mini Coopers had a spike in thefts when they were new but eventually declined in theft popularity.
Because of LoJack and police operations focusing on auto theft, law enforcement agencies have been able to get many of the vehicles back to their owners.
Vehicle burglary prevention tips
* Always lock your doors even if you are making a quick stop.
* Don’t use a keyless remote to lock and unlock your vehicle. Remotes can be clones.
* Always close all the windows.
* Do not leave any personal property lying on the seats of the vehicle.
* Always put personal property away (out of sight), prior to arrival at your destination; place the property under a seat or inside the trunk.
* If you have a pull out stereo, take it with you. If you have a detachable faceplate stereo, take the faceplate with you.
* Do not leave money in your ashtray.
* Keep your garage door remote out of plain view, and if stolen, change the remote control frequency.
* Don’t leave a vehicle in unattended parking lots for an extended period.
* Never attach a tag with your name and address to your key ring. If the keys are lost or stolen, the tag will lead a thief directly to your car and your home.
* At night, park in well-lit areas.
* Consider an alarm system.
* Report to police any person(s) on our campus who appear suspicious or out of place. If possible get a description of the subjects.
* Don’t hesitate to call the police if you are suspicious of someone or something. Time is of the essence.
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