Crime & Safety

Theft From Cars Top Crime in Newport Beach

Newport Beach police Chief Jay Johnson said thefts from unlocked cars are a big problem in the city.

Crime is at a historical low in Newport Beach, but if, it is to stay that way, residents need to do a better job of locking their cars, said Newport Beach police Chief Jay Johnson.

Theft from cars is currently the number one crime in Newport Beach. Johnson said 208 of these types of crimes have been reported this year. Last year at this time, there were 164. And the most troubling fact, according to Johnson, is that 75 percent of those cars were unlocked.

"We have a theft problem in Newport Beach," Johnson said at Wednesday night's Town Hall meeting in Corona del Mar. "But if you lock your cars, a lot of these crimes will go away."

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According to Johnson, if a suspect steals something worth less than $1,000 from an unlocked car, it is considered petty theft. But if the car is locked, the crime is a felony punishable by state prison time.

"These criminals know the difference when they are dealing with unlocked and locked cars," Johnson explained. "If your car is unlocked and someone takes something out of it, the crime is similar to someone stealing a piece of gum."

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Johnson encouraged residents to always lock car doors, close car windows, remove all valuables and think like a "crook."

"Look at your car just as a crook would. A crook that just needs to sell something for his next $10 fix," Johnson said. "Clothes, a CD, or a phone can all be sold on the street for that."

Johnson said the help of residents is also essential because of Assembly Bill 109, or the state realignment plan that took effect in October, which is sending nonviolent, low-level offenders back onto the streets.

"Tens of thousands of criminals are headed back to the streets, so I am concerned about that," Johnson said. "If we want to keep the crime at its historic low point, we are going to need your help."

Johnson said residents should sign up for the Nixle community notification system, which sends out community information directly to residents via pre-recorded telephone calls, emails, text messages and online notifications.

Subscribe to Nixle at local.nixle.com/register.

Have you been the victim of car theft or burglary? Do you have any tips for your neighbors to combat this problem?

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