Readers of the East Penn and Salisbury editions of the Lehigh Valley Press newspapers may have noted the recent thefts of two high-end vehicles listed on the police page of the Dec. 20, 2023, editions: a $67,000 Cadillac allegedly stolen Nov. 6, 2023, and a Porsche, valued at $112,700, reported stolen Oct. 25, 2023.

Unfortunately, for these specific car owners, of course, and for drivers in general, car thefts are trending.

In an Oct. 16, 2023, report by ABC News, more than 1 million cars were stolen in 2022, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation data.

The tally increased approximately 10% from the previous year, reporter Luke Barr noted.

Car rustlers in Pennsylvania seem particularly fond of family sedans and full-size pickup trucks, according to data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

One way to avoid having your vehicle nabbed is to make it less appealing, according to insurance investigator Bob Schoenauer in an article for ErieSense magazine, a publication available to Erie Insurance holders.

Schoenauer recommends parking in a well-lit spot, describing such spots as “lower risk.”

He further cautions motorists to “be smart about what you’re leaving in your car.” For example, don’t leave big-ticket items such as golf clubs or your work laptop, he continues. Such items can inspire a theft of the full vehicle, apparently.

In my early days behind the wheel, my mom cautioned me with this saying to remember when parking for the night: “Don’t let a good boy go bad,” meaning do not leave even loose change in a cup holder to tempt a potential car thief to try to get in your vehicle.

A friend of mine once shared how she lost her car and more when a sibling accidentally left her car unlocked after helping her pack it for a move. She lost some of her favorite sundresses, she recalled.

According to AAA, car thefts often are crimes of opportunity.

Basic precautions, including locking the doors, rolling up the windows, taking the key, removing temptations such as laptops and smartphones from view and parking inside or in well-lit spots, work well.

“Don’t let a good boy go bad.”

Thanks, Mom.

April Peterson

editorial assistant

East Penn Press

Salisbury Press