Car theft in Sacramento has gone up again, Sac PD says

Police officers assembled into teams with young officer trainees spreading out across North Sacramento Saturday, talking to drivers in areas they said are hardest hit by car thieves.At shopping centers and apartment complexes, they handed out fliers and even "The Club," a device used to secure steering wheels.Auto theft, which had decreased for several years, is on the rise again, according to Sacramento police. A total of 2,922 cars were stolen in Sacramento in 2015, police said. The number of thefts they’re seeing so far in 2016 has officers concerned that this year is keeping pace with last year."We want the public to realize that they hold the key to prevention,” said Sgt. Marnie Stigerts, who led the police teams into neighborhoods in and around Natomas and Del Paso Heights Saturday.Some of the areas thieves are targeting most often include the Granite Point apartment complex on Truxel Road, the Morningside Creek Apartments on Norwood Avenue, and shopping centers on the 2400 block of Del Paso Boulevard and the 3200 block of Arena Boulevard, police said.Honda Accords and Honda Civics remain the most appealing to thieves, especially 1990s models, Stigerts said.“I just think it's easy to get in and get it started," Stigerts said.With help from the Department of Motor Vehicles, police have mailed letters to Honda owners individually.The advice they gave out is commonly heard:-Don’t leave your car unlocked.-Don’t leave valuables in plain sight.-Secure either your steering wheel with a "club" device or your car with an alarm.Officers said the message is worth repeating. Stigerts said thieves are looking for vehicles that are the easiest targets.“I’ve had examples of suspects that have basically said to us when we’ve talked to them after the fact, ‘Hey, it was just too easy for me not to pass that car,’” Stigerts said.

Police officers assembled into teams with young officer trainees spreading out across North Sacramento Saturday, talking to drivers in areas they said are hardest hit by car thieves.

At shopping centers and apartment complexes, they handed out fliers and even "The Club," a device used to secure steering wheels.


Auto theft, which had decreased for several years, is on the rise again, according to Sacramento police. A total of 2,922 cars were stolen in Sacramento in 2015, police said. The number of thefts they’re seeing so far in 2016 has officers concerned that this year is keeping pace with last year.

"We want the public to realize that they hold the key to prevention,” said Sgt. Marnie Stigerts, who led the police teams into neighborhoods in and around Natomas and Del Paso Heights Saturday.

Some of the areas thieves are targeting most often include the Granite Point apartment complex on Truxel Road, the Morningside Creek Apartments on Norwood Avenue, and shopping centers on the 2400 block of Del Paso Boulevard and the 3200 block of Arena Boulevard, police said.

Honda Accords and Honda Civics remain the most appealing to thieves, especially 1990s models, Stigerts said.

“I just think it's easy to get in and get it started," Stigerts said.

With help from the Department of Motor Vehicles, police have mailed letters to Honda owners individually.

The advice they gave out is commonly heard:

-Don’t leave your car unlocked.

-Don’t leave valuables in plain sight.

-Secure either your steering wheel with a "club" device or your car with an alarm.

Officers said the message is worth repeating. Stigerts said thieves are looking for vehicles that are the easiest targets.

“I’ve had examples of suspects that have basically said to us when we’ve talked to them after the fact, ‘Hey, it was just too easy for me not to pass that car,’” Stigerts said.