CID Ambassadors team up with KCMO Police

Our Downtown CID Ambassadors are working closely with the KCPD to prevent thefts – particularly car break-ins – in the Central Business District and the River Market.

Such thefts are up 7 percent over last year, but Master Patrol Office James Schriever insists the number of these thefts can be cut by 90 percent. The key is to think ahead. He explained that the vast majority of these thefts begin when property owners act carelessly or leave valuables out in plain sight.

“Education, informational awareness and implementation of the techniques are the keys to not becoming a victim,” Officer Schriever said. “And this crime is not unique to Kansas City. Cities across the country are struggling to educate their communities on the importance of securing items of value in vehicles.”

The CID Ambassadors have joined forces with Office Schriever to produce a “Think Like a Thief” brochure that is designed to help reduce your risk for theft. The best theft prevention is to “think like a thief” and follow these simple steps:

• Always lock your vehicle with the windows rolled up. The harder it is for a thief to get into your car, the more likely he will move on to the next car. Almost half the thefts from inside motor vehicles involve a vehicle being left unlocked.
• Don’t leave anything of value inside the vehicle in plain sight. This includes cell phones, laptops, radios, briefcases, purses, packages, GPS devices, and other valuables like loose change. Thieves will cause hundreds of dollars of damage to your car to steal a few cents left in a cup holder. Device mounting brackets and chargers left in plain sight indicate to thieves that valuables may be hidden somewhere inside the car. Valuables should not be left in your car period, but obviously should not be in view.
• Don’t leave your vehicle unoccupied with keys in it. Don’t do this even for a moment. Why make it that easy for a criminal to drive off with your car? This is especially true at convenience stores or with children in the car.
• If you have an anti‐theft device for your vehicle…use it! If you have a car alarm, set it. If you have a steering wheel “club,” lock it in place correctly.
• Make sure the license plates on your car are properly secured. Make it difficult to remove your plate by securing it tightly. When your year sticker is in place, run a razor across it several times to make it more difficult to remove in one piece.
• At night, park in well-lighted areas. Not only will this deter thieves from stealing your car, but you will also be safer when you return to your vehicle.
• Report all incidents as quickly as possible to the police. If you don’t report a crime, the Police Department won’t know there is a problem. And always make a theft or damage report for your losses.

For more information or to request additional copies of the Think Like a Thief brochure, contact Officer Schriever at james.schriever@kcpd.org or Mark Rowlands, CID director, at mark@downtownkc.org.