Unlocked vehicles with key fobs leading to more thefts in Park

GROSSE POINTE PARK — Along with pre-bedtime rituals like brushing their teeth and setting their alarm, Grosse Pointe Park Public Safety Director James Bostock would like to see people add a new one: Make sure the car key fob is inside the house.

Although crime overall is down in the Park, Bostock said there’s been a recent spike in larcenies from vehicles and vehicle thefts. In the majority of those incidents, he said, the vehicles were unlocked. As for the vehicle thefts, Bostock said that since July 17, of about 11 vehicle thefts, 10 were unlocked vehicles with key fobs left inside them. As Bostock pointed out, that’s more than 90%.

“Please lock your cars,” Bostock said during an Aug. 12 Park City Council meeting. “Don’t leave anything of value in your car. Don’t make it tempting (for criminals). … Don’t leave your key fobs in the cars.”

It’s not a problem specific to the Park — it happens in many other communities, including the other Grosse Pointes. Unfortunately, the Park seems to have been especially hard-hit in recent weeks by crooks in search of an easy score.

“This is more than a pattern now,” Mayor Michele Hodges said during the meeting of the key fob issue. “It is surprising that this continues to be a problem in the community.”

From the increasing number of doorbell and home security camera footage police have reviewed, Bostock said officers have seen “it doesn’t take long” for suspects going through a neighborhood to find unlocked vehicles.

“We’re fortunate to be in a community where crime is relatively low, but crime does happen everywhere,” Bostock said after the meeting. “We have to be vigilant.”

The Public Safety Department also has a limited number of steering wheel locks available for free for residents. Anyone interested in obtaining one can visit the Public Safety Department or call (313) 822-7400. Residents who see suspicious activity in their neighborhood are also encouraged to call the Public Safety Department immediately to report it.