It’s peak auto theft season in  the Washington area.
Officials say between Memorial Day and Labor Day is when your car is most likely to be stolen. And though the number of auto thefts in the area has dropped in recent years, more than 17,000 cars were stolen last year in the Washington area, said AAA Mid Atlantic spokesman John Townsend.
“Here’s the good news: Some 2,682 vehicles were stolen in D.C. proper in the six month period from January to June 2009, compared to 3,076 vehicles during the same period in 2008, the FBI reports,” said Townsend. “Here’s the bad news: If your vehicle is stolen, it seems like the odds are against you. You only stand less than a sixty percent chance of having it recovered. Speaking of the odds, you also stand a greater chance of having your car stolen in July and August than any other months of the year.”
Of the nearly 1 million cars stolen last year more than half were never recovered.
According to Fairfax County crime statistics, the numbers are better than the national average when it comes to recovering stolen automobiles.
In 2008, county police reported recovering a total of $3.8 million in stolen autos, after automobiles totaling $2.6 million were reported stolen that year.
AAA reminds drivers to never leave car doors open or unlocked, never leave the car running, never leave keys in the car, to never leave the face to your stereo attached, never leave personal documents inside your car, and to be extra cautious when parking at beaches, mall parking lots, mass transit parking lots and on dimly-lit streets.
They also stress putting valuables away, placing them out of the sight of anyone who might be walking by.
Those valuables include cell phones, computers, iPods, GPS units, cameras, shopping bags and purses and wallets to name a few.
Recent Stories
Commemorating Earth Day from Prince William Forest Park today, President Biden announced a series of wide-reaching climate initiatives designed to expand nationwide access to solar energy and create a federal jobs program known as the American Climate Corps.
In a letter addressed to the Chair and the Supervisors of Prince William County, Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth outlined her intention to withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges, effective May 1, 2024, if she doesn’t get her money.
At a presentation hosted by the Prince William County Committee of 100, the community gathered to explore the potential utilization of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a viable energy source for the Northern Virginia region.
Prince William fire and rescue units responded to a residential fire on Merrily Way on April 22, and a fire at Loch Lomond Elementary School on April 20, 2024.
To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
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Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
