Residents urged to lock car doors to thwart thieves

by Erica Peterson

Mayor Greg Kurtz warned residents that car thieves are targeting unlocked vehicles in the city overnight.

“According to Police Chief Michael Kilbane, the teens operate in the dark of night, looking for open car doors to quietly commit their crimes and get away unnoticed,” Kurtz said in a recent administrative update. “When people leave their key fobs inside, young criminals push the start button to make a quick escape.”

Independence is one of more than 20 communities that have had unlocked cars stolen or broken into over the past year, he said.

At the Jan. 12 city council meeting, Kilbane said the theft ring had gone dormant for a while but seems to have started up again.

“Over the last week, there were two incidents, but because we had officers immediately in the vicinity, no thefts were committed,” he said at the meeting.

Policed got into two vehicle pursuits with the suspects, he said, one involving a confirmed stolen vehicle.

The police department has stepped up patrols, which Kilbane said helped thwart two robberies in early January.

“It’s a combination of our residents taking it to heart and locking up their vehicles and securing them, and our officers maintaining a highly concentrated presence in the neighborhoods,” he said. “Those were two incidents where we were able to at least get them and chase them out before they were able to victimize any of our residents.”

Kurtz asked that anyone who sees something suspicious call 911.

“Do not confront or threaten anyone,” he said. “Please stay safe and leave it up to the police to handle the matter.”