The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said there have been 880 auto burglaries in Duval County so far in 2018.
That comes out to nearly 14 a day.
“That's a ridiculous amount of car break-ins,” Alexis Tabora said.
Police said half of the break-ins could have been prevented had people simply locked their car doors.
“I just don't leave anything in my car and when I do leave my car, I just make sure that I lock it before I go inside,” Tabora said.
Those are steps Action News Jax Crime and Safety Expert Ken Jefferson said every driver should follow. He said having valuables in plain sight is an invitation for thieves.
880 auto burglaries in Duval County so far in 2018. If you rbeak that down, it's nearly 14 a day. @ActionNewsJax
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) March 6, 2018
JSO says more than half of those vehicle burglaries could've been prevented if people had simply locked their car doors. @ActionNewsJax
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) March 6, 2018
“If it's in the sight of a burglar or thief, he's going to break into your car and get it, whether he breaks the glass or whether he just opens the door if it's unlocked,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson said there are extra steps you can take to protect yourself from becoming a victim. He recommends installing surveillance cameras and motion sensor lights outside your home.
“If he walks up to a driveway and all the sudden the light shines on him, he knows that could trigger something on the inside,” Jefferson said.
He also said having your windows tinted can add an extra layer of security.
Jefferson said while these are not things that will stop a burglar, it's a great deterrent.
“If a thief wants to get into your car he's going to get into your car, just make it hard for them,” Jefferson said.
Cox Media Group
