Historical May 1987 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
There has been a significant increase in auto theft and auto vandalism in the Skinker-DeBaliviere area.
According to Operation Safe Street, there were 36 cars stolen in our neighborhood between November 1986 and February 1987 This represents a 157% increase over the same period last year Larcenies (primarily auto break-ins) is also up over 100%.
The problem seems to be a reflection of what is happening state and nation wide. Auto theft and auto vandalism are the fastest growing problem in the State of Missouri at this time.
The problem is important enough for the City of St. Louis to set up an Auto Theft Task Force to deal specifically with it and they are having some success. Over a 12 week period over 120 arrests were made and 43 vehicles were recovered (several before they were even reported stolen). That is the good news.
The bad news is that our police are working with a limited budget (we have the smallest such task force of any city our size) and, even with unlimited resources, the police could not solve this problem alone.
It will take a cooperative effort between citizens and police to achieve maximum results. What can we do to help the police and help ourselves?
To start with we need to recognize that a problem exists and start looking out for our cars.
Most of the break-ins in our neighborhood appear to be the work of youth (14 to 25 year-olds fit the profile).
This is not a very sophisticated crime.
A brick to break a window (and not even that if someone leaves their car open) and a screwdriver to defeat the steering column lock are about the only tools required.
Since this is an unsophisticated crime, there are a number of relatively simple precautions we can take.
Here are a few suggestions: 1.
Don’t leave your car unlocked. 2. Don’t leave anything of value in your car, especially overnight. 3.
If you have a burglar alarm, use it whenever you leave your car unattended. 4.
If you don’t have a burglar alarm, a kill switch or a chain around the steering wheel is a good deterrent. 5. Don’t hide spare keys under your bumper or anywhere else on your car.
It is an open invitation to a thief. 6. Report any suspicious activity around autos to the police, especially young males 14 to 25 years of age.
Most thieves do not want to go to the trouble and the risk of stealing a secured car.
If given the choice they will take the easy pickings every time.
So let’s be aware of this problem and make it as difficult as possible for a would-be thief. (Special thanks to Detective Joel Grant of the St. Louis Police Department for his useful information.)
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, May 1987.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1987_05.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
