Neighborhood 'too nice' for car thefts? Not true, police say

By CHRIS TOGNERI
BEE STAFF WRITER

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Many Modesto residents mistakenly believe their vehicle is safe, that car theft happens only in neighborhoods known for having high crime rates.

Those residents are not only wrong, police say, but also contribute to the Modesto area's title — two years running — of car theft capital of the country.

"People in nicer neighborhoods think it's too nice here, it doesn't happen where I live," said officer Rick Applegate, a police spokesman. "But, unfortunately, these are some of our most vulnerable neighborhoods."

According to police statistics, vehicles are stolen all over the city. Not a single neighborhood is safe, Applegate said.

"The map shows otherwise, doesn't it?" Applegate said, referring to a police map of Modesto strewn with thousands of dots that represent auto theft sites from Aug. 1, 2004, to Aug. 1, 2005. "The fact is, no neighborhood is immune."

Certain trends do exist, said Lt. Jeff Morris, commander of the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force.

For example, most cars are stolen at night, from apartment complex parking lots, off residential streets and out of driveways, he said. Cars stolen in the day are typically taken from malls, schools or in front of businesses.

Rarely are cars stolen from closed garages.

"Thieves want something quick and easy," Morris said. "When you start talking about breaking and entering, that's not likely to happen."

As to where stolen cars are recovered, again, the answer is all over. The only trend is that thieves usually dump stolen cars in alleyways or parking lots, Applegate said.

And it's not just in Modesto, Morris said. Cars are at risk in all neighborhoods throughout the county.

"It could happen anywhere," Morris said.

Most car thieves are opportunists, Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden said. They need some cash to support a drug habit, or just a temporary means of transportation, he said.

So the thief walks along a street or through a business parking lot, seeking easy targets: an unlocked car, or a car with the keys left inside, Wasden said. And with minimal effort and almost no high-tech skill, the thief gets in and drives off.

"Unfortunately, in more financially advantaged neighborhoods, we find more vehicles left unlocked, vehicles with keys in the ignitions," Applegate said. "This attracts thieves."

Thieves will go wherever easy victims are, he said.

No matter where they live.

Bee staff writer Chris Togneri can be reached at 578-2324 or ctogneri@modbee.com.