Tuesday, July 1, 2008; Posted: 4:38 p.m. (CDT)
They're easy to spot. We found a red vehicle open and left alone for at least 10 minutes in Nichols Hills.
Kyle Niafeh, a Nichols Hills resident, says, "It's a safe neighborhood."
Niafeh's family was having flowers delivered and that vehicle left alone was the delivery vehicle. But he admits, the driver should have been more careful.
"That's just enough time for someone to go back and take whatever they need," says Niafeh.
Chief Richard Mask, with the Nichols Hills Police Department, says, "The easier they make it for these people that come here to steal, the more often they're going to come back and the more of them there will be."
Police have some simple tips. They say if you're not inside your vehicle never leave it running. They also suggest hiding your valuables, so they're not visible for criminals to see.
"These are not times you can afford to leave a car unlocked and the keys in the ignition," says Chief Mask.
Officers say so far this year, seven vehicles have been stolen from Nichols Hills.
Niafeh says, "It's scary."
All of the stolen vehicles had something in common. They were unlocked with the keys inside.
"We always make sure our cars are locked, always! I mean you gotta," says Niafeh. "You've got to turn on alarms and lock all doors. It's the middle of the day and it's easy to forget."
Police have one other piece of advice. They want homeowners to have their alarm companies notify them first if their alarms go off. They say it allows them to respond quicker.
As for those car burglaries, some arrests have been made and some people identified. If you have any information on any of these crimes contact Nichols Hills police at 843-0978.
