Stay aware, lock vehicle doors to avoid thefts

SIKESTON — With Vehicle Theft Prevention Month taking place in July, officials remind individuals there are several ways they can stay aware and avoid their vehicles being broken into.

This month the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) observes Vehicle Theft Prevention Month alongside the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States Department of Transportation. 

Vehicle theft is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States, costing vehicle owners more than $8 billion per year.

Sgt. Tyler Rowe, public information officer for Sikeston Department of Public Safety, discussed vehicle thefts in the area and how to prevent them.

“We haven’t had any vehicle thefts this month in the area specifically,” Rowe said. “There are always thefts in general, but we haven’t had any vehicle thefts here recently.”

According to Rowe, when it comes to vehicle theft, DPS wants citizens to understand the importance of locking their vehicles.

“The biggest thing we like to tell people is just to make sure you lock your car,” Rowe said. “Take your keys inside and don’t leave any valuables in plain view.”

According to NHTSA, more than 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2023, representing a 25% increase over previous years.

Rowe added residents can also park in a well-lit area if one is available. Rowe also advised against leaving an area while their vehicle is running.

According to Rowe, the majority of vehicle thefts in the area occur at people’s homes rather than in public areas. 

“Typically, what we have seen in the past is people or an individual will go through neighborhoods, checking multiple vehicles by just walking up and seeing if the car doors are unlocked to see if there’s anything of value that they can take,” Rowe said. “Whether it’s cash, a wallet, maybe a cell phone or a laptop — anything that’s easy to take with them.”

Rowe said that homeowners can install cameras outside their homes to monitor any potential car thefts.

“We also ask that if anybody has any footage or recording of a theft that they would provide that to our department so we can track or see what areas are being targeted,” Rowe said.

Rowe also encouraged anyone who knows of someone who has committed car theft to notify their department so that they can conduct an investigation. 

“From what we have seen, there’s not really a certain time of year that car thefts will take place; it just kind of comes and goes,” Rowe said. “But we can’t stress enough to lock your vehicles and not leave any valuables out in the open.” 

Rowe advised anyone who claims their vehicle has been stolen or broken into to contact 911 or their department immediately.

According to the Missouri DCI, it is a common misconception that in the event of a theft, all items in the vehicle are covered by the auto policy. According to the Missouri Department of Insurance, most auto policies only cover items that are commonly used in vehicles, such as car seats, jumper cables or spare tires.

Personal belongings such as cellphones, laptops, purses and wallets must be filed as separate claims under their homeowners or renters policy.

For any insurance questions, individuals can call Missouri DCI’s insurance consumer hotline at 800-726-7390 or visit insurance.mo.gov/consumers.