Vehicle thefts in Bakersfield surged in late July, prompting police and a retired law enforcement officer to urge drivers to take extra precautions.
The Bakersfield Police Department reported 168 vehicle thefts from July 20-26 alone, a jump from the 136 thefts reported in June.
Retired New York Police Department officer Greg Sanfilippo said simple steps can help reduce the risk of becoming a victim. “Never leave a vehicle, a running vehicle unattended. Always lock your vehicle,” Sanfilippo said. He added, “A lot of times people forget to lock their vehicle or leave their car keys in their vehicle.”
Sanfilippo also encouraged drivers to consider using a tracking system. “A lot of new vehicles have that tracking built in, but it takes time to access that tracking system. So even an old fashioned air tag or something that is able to track that vehicle quicker from your device, the quicker we get the location to law enforcement, the quicker they can respond,” he said.
He said thieves do not always target high-end vehicles, and that commonly sold models can be especially vulnerable. “A lot of times it’s the most sold vehicle. So you’re seeing what would be the commuter cars or just knock around cars that are most likely stolen..they’re stolen for parts because so many are out there and they’re so available,” Sanfilippo said.
If a vehicle is stolen, Sanfilippo advised against chasing or confronting suspects and said people should call law enforcement as soon as possible.