Launching a statewide program to combat vehicle theft occurs not a moment too soon. The problem has become so widespread and has grown so fast that it demands the aggressive type of approach planned by the new Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council. Similar efforts in Michigan and California have been successful.
Earlier this month, the vehicle theft prevention council awarded $983,000 for public education programs around the state. About half the money went toward initiatives in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, the jurisdictions in the metro region with the highest vehicle-theft rates by far.
One key initiative is the city-county task force to analyze the theft problem and devise solutions. Convened last month, the panel was modeled on previous groups of law enforcement members from various jurisdictions that cooperated in investigations of crime trends and specific unlawful acts.
The task force has its work cut out. Through the first nine months of 1994, thefts in the city accounted for 36 percent of the statewide total, though only 7 percent of the state's vehicles are registered by Baltimoreans. Baltimore County, with 16 percent of the registered vehicles in Maryland, had 17 percent of the thefts in the state during the same nine-month period. By comparison, Anne Arundel County had 5 percent of the state thefts; Howard County, 3 percent; Harford and Carroll counties less than 1 percent each.
A significant portion of Baltimore's grant money will be devoted to lowering the number of thefts by juveniles, who account for half of the vehicle heists in Maryland. A youthful gang of auto thieves based in Baltimore has recently occupied the attention of police investigators in both the city and Baltimore County. Young joy-riders have also been blamed for the soaring theft rate in Howard County, particularly in the Columbia area.
As welcome and perhaps overdue as is this initiative, citizens can help make a major dent in the theft statistics by taking some simple, common-sense safeguards.
First, don't leave keys in a vehicle. Experts say this would reduce the number of robberies by 20 percent. Second, keep car doors locked. A whopping 80 percent of stolen vehicles were found unlocked by the thieves.
Just as the public had to get in the habit of securing house doors and windows, the same precautions must be taken with automobiles. It's a good way to drive down the rate of vehicle thefts.