Crime & Safety

Rash of Car Burglaries Means Lock Your Doors When Stopping in Cedar Rapids

Following a spike in theft from vehicles in Cedar Rapids, police are warning people to lock their doors and take other precautions. Marion has seen its share of car burglaries, also.

Scott Raynor, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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Next time you drive to Cedar Rapids, be sure to lock your doors and take your keys with you.

Cedar Rapids Police have noticed a 31 percent increase in reports of items stolen from vehicles so far this August compared to this point in August last year.

Police have received 47 reports during the first half of August, which is 11 more than the same time period last year. Thirty-seven of the vehicles weren't secured, police said.

Find out what's happening in Marionfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Cedar Rapids Police issued an advisory today warning people to lock their vehicles and take other precautions.

While an advisory hasn't been issued in Marion, just yesterday a man was arrested in connection with parked at Marion's  bar.

Find out what's happening in Marionfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

We've highlighted some tips on protecting the items in your vehicle from the Cedar Rapids Police below.

  • Do not leave items in plain sight in your vehicle. Place items in the trunk or carry them inside. 

  • Do not leave the keys to the car in the car or on the floor. If the car is unlocked, chances are more favorable that the keys can be found somewhere in the car as well.         

  • The most obvious prevention of theft from vehicle is to use the locks on the doors. In cases where the victim was asked why they left their vehicle unlocked with items inside of it, the overwhelming response from them is, "But it was in my driveway," or, "But it was parked on the street in front of my house," "I only ran in to __________ for just a second."

  • Secure your items in the trunk of the vehicle prior to your arrival at school, work or the walking trail. Put the thieves out of business by securing your property. 

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