Clarksville police launch ‘Park Smart’ campaign for auto theft prevention

By ClarksvilleNow.com September 28, 2018 11:01 am

Clarksville Now

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Clarksville Police Department (CPD) is urging car owners to ‘Park Smart’ with the launch of a new auto theft prevention campaign.

According to CPD statistics, over 60 percent of recent vehicle thefts and burglaries in Clarksville have occurred due to unlocked vehicles or keys that were left inside or were easily accessible to thieves. Between January and September 2018, 100 more vehicle burglaries were reported than dueing the same time frame in 2017. Guns stolen from vehicle burglaries are also up, from 64 to 74.

“We’re teaming up with other law enforcement agencies such as Metro Nashville who already have ‘Park Smart!’ campaigns for stress free ways to reduce auto thefts,” CPD spokesman Jim Knoll said.

The concepts behind ‘Park Smart’ are simple:

First, LOCK YOUR VEHICLE – always lock your car and close your windows, even for short periods, when your vehicle is unattended.

Second, SECURE YOUR VALUABLES – a vehicle becomes a desirable target when you leave purses, money, laptops, and cellphones visible to passersby. Also, leaving firearms inside of a vehicle overnight, unsecured or without some sort of positive control can be a formula for disaster.

Third, TAKE YOUR KEYS WITH YOU – never leave the key in the ignition or fob in the car when it is unattended or running.

As a reminder Tennessee Code Annotated, 55-8-162, states: Unattended motor vehicles — Unattended vehicles containing medical or hazardous waste — Penalty and liability — Application to utility.

(a) No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, and effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.
(b)

(1) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no person shall leave unsecured and unattended any truck, tractor-trailer or tractor-semitrailer combination, with a rated capacity of more than one (1) ton, containing “medical waste,” as defined in rules promulgated under §§ 68-211-101 — 68-211-122, or “hazardous waste,” as defined in § 68-212-104, in any residential area, or within one thousand feet (1,000′) of any church, school or park.

Also, The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled that individuals who leaves their keys in vehicles can be held responsible if the vehicle is stolen and then involved in a crash.