CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – According to the Clarksville Police Department (CPD), a total of 87 vehicles have been stolen in the city so far this year.
Police said 57 of the vehicle thefts could have been prevented if owners had taken better measures to ensure their vehicles were secure. Vehicles had been left running unattended, keys were left in unlocked vehicles, keys were left in lock boxes attached to vehicles, and house guests took vehicles without permission.
For comparison, 63 vehicles were stolen in 2017.
“We’ve noticed an increase of vehicle burglaries to commercial or personal vehicles while deliveries or drop offs are being made to a business,” CPD spokesman Jim Knoll said. “The vehicle operator goes inside of the business and when they return to the unlocked vehicle they find personal and/or business related items stolen from inside of the vehicle. Additionally, burglaries to unlocked vehicles continues to be an ongoing problem.”
Police want the public to be aware of the recent trends and lock their vehicles.