The auto theft stats for March 2023 are in. There were 771 vehicles reported stolen in Pierce County and 1,498 reported stolen in King County. That’s an average of about 73 per day! Our team is out there every day working to tackle this problem, but there are also things you can do to lessen your risk of becoming a victim:
– Remove or hide all valuables
– Lock your car
– Don’t leave keys or fobs inside
– Don’t leave your vehicle running unattended (exhaust in cold months makes these vehicles easy to spot)
– Use anti-theft devices (alarm, kill switch, steering wheel lock)
– Park in well-lit areas
While it’s important for all vehicle owners to consider using an anti-theft device, we strongly encourage residents of apartment complexes to make this a priority because these complexes are a top target for car thieves. Steering wheel locks are strongly recommended for owners of Hyundai and Kia models that are vulnerable to theft. Free steering wheel locks are still available at the Lakewood Police Department and at the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department’s South Hill Precinct.
We also suggest leaving a GPS tracker, such as an Air Tag or Tile, in your vehicle so that you (we) can track it if it does get stolen.
In March, our task force recovered 56 stolen vehicles, with a total value of $1,102,002. We also made 28 arrests, which resulted in 39 charges filed.
So far this year, 10,804 vehicles have been reported stolen statewide.
