Jefferson residents warned to keep cars locked

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Jefferson residents warned to keep cars locked

Wednesday, February 10. 2010

A rash of thefts from vehicles in the city has led Jefferson police chief Joe Wirthman to encourage residents to keep their cars locked — even while parked at their residence.

Residents across the city, including several on Brittany Court, have reported items stolen from their vehicles.

At the Jefferson City Council meeting Monday night, chief Wirthman warned residents to lock their vehicles and not keep valuables inside.

Wirthman also warned drivers about recent thefts in the city in which suspects drive around neighborhoods looking for unsupervised vehicles that are being warmed up during cold mornings.

The police department has made several arrests in those type of incidents, he added.

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#1 jeffersonres99 on 02/11/10 at 08:17 AM [Reply]

If I'm not mistaken, JPD cars say serve and protect, yet I only see them on I 85 and the bypass writing tickets, I have only seen a patrol car twice in my neighborhood in four years, yet I see patrol cars all the time at the local gas stations and the one time I needed them it took over 20 minutes in response time. So the real question is are JPD here to serve and protect or to be tax collectors with a gun. I would just like some patroling in this town, have a traffic enforcement car or two, but I have high taxes, now increased crime, just wonder where all the money is going, no wonder the city manager wants to move out of town

#1.1 mo on 02/12/10 at 12:53 AM [Reply]

I work a very late shift and although I do see alot of JPD on the main roads, up 85 and 129 - I have to say when I get home in the early mornings hours I have seen JPD patroling in my neighborhood. It's good to know they're out there.

#1.2 jefferson resident on 03/23/10 at 05:39 AM [Reply]

I see JPD in my residential area sometimes 3 or 4 times a nite.Maybe you are sleeping or just like to whine. There are only 3 of them on at times and they can not be in our neighborhoods answer calls and keep people like you happy all the time.Everyone bashes the police too much for what they are seen not to do but none of you say good job when they apprehend criminals.

#2 Emmett Delaney on 02/11/10 at 08:20 AM [Reply]

No one likes to sit in a cold frozen car while it warms up, that is for sure. Most folks warm up their cars for several minutes while they finish their morning activities so they can attend to any last minute prep for the day while their cars thaw out. If you are going to do this, it is my suggestion that you keep the remote control with you and lock car while it warms up, thereby allowing you to lock the doors. Most criminals, not all mind you, but most are opportunists of little skill and certainly not much sense. Taking a moment to do this would probably eliminate most, if not all of the car thefts that come as a result of the "warm up snatch". If you do not have a remote control or extra key you can get one made pretty cheap. Even a copy of the "high tech" keys can be made that will simply operate the door allowing you entry to your safely locked, warmed up car, while a frustrated thief has traveled elsewhere looking for an "opportunity."

Emmett Delaney
Delaney Towing & Recovery

#2.1 careful with that on 02/11/10 at 10:08 PM [Reply]

Be careful trying that! I would suggest rolling the windows down and then locking it to make sure the remote will work. I learned the hard way a 2004 Ford Focus will lock with the remote but if the car is running the remote will not unlock the car. So check the remote with the car running and the windows down (so you can unlock it if the remote doesn't work). Otherwise you may be calling Delaney for a slim jim.

#2.1.1 anon on 02/15/10 at 10:29 AM [Reply]

Heed the police depts warning. They warned against UNSUPERVISED VEHICLES BEING WARMED UP. They didn't say it was ok to warm your car up IF your door was locked.

You are ASKING FOR YOUR CAR TO BE STOLEN IF YOU LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN THE VEHICLE. A window will not keep a thief from stealing your car if the keys are in it. Windows are easy to break, you know.

Don't make it easy on theives! Make it hard for them! Take away the opportunity!

#2.1.1.1 just a guy on 03/11/10 at 07:37 AM [Reply]

if i lock my doors to warm up my car there is a chance that a thief will break out my window, but that is loud enough for me to hear it from inside n come out with my gun so im good with that because like most americans should i carry a gun and know how to use it.

so they can try but that second it takes to unlock the door ill b outside locked n loaded

#3 dragonmom on 02/11/10 at 12:33 PM [Reply]

I am a stay at home mom and have lived in my neighborhood for 4 years now and we see JPD cars come through the subdivision at least a couple times a day. They stop cars from speeding or running stop signs in our neighborhood too which is good because kids are always playing. Your probably not around when the JPD comes by which is exactly the time when we need them there by the way.

#4 Fidel Cashflow on 02/14/10 at 07:44 AM [Reply]

Why are we complaining about the police...let's complain about the Jefferson, Commerce, and Jackson county school systems! Then we will truly be awesome!

#4.1 anon on 02/20/10 at 12:24 PM [Reply]

First of all a window that is up or a door that is locked is only going to keep an honest criminal out. Do not think for one minute that just because you locked the doors and rolled the window up, because you have a remote or an extra key, that your going to keep someone from taking your car with it running. Take the oppurtunity away completely. Bundle up extra and get in your car and go to work or wherever and let your car warm up as you go down the road. This act eliminates all possibility for theft.

#5 Jefferson Resident on 02/23/10 at 02:30 PM [Reply]

The Jefferson PD needs to patrol the area in which these thefts are occurring. We have had a house broken into 2 days before Christmas, a car stolen, 3 cars Broken into as mentioned in this article and just yesterday 2/22, 3 more cars were broken into on Westmorland. You would think an increased Police presence might deter some of these thefts, but we will never know. We used to have the police patrol our neighborhood regularly when one of their own lived in our neighborhood, but since then they have not been seen.

#6 JPD Supporter on 03/12/10 at 03:17 PM [Reply]

What has not been reported, yet mentioned is that the Police Department has arrested several persons involved and that some, not all of the residents have gotten their property back.

About vehicles on the interstate (I-85). The only two vehicles you are seeing are the K-9 Tahoes. If you see a patrol vehicle (Crown Vic) it is because they are assisting the K-9 Units. Believe i or not Jefferson is a central hub between North Carolina and Atlanta for drug runners. If you do not think that Jefferson has a drug issue than you are wearing blinders or hiding under a rock.

We should be supporting our men in blue and encouraging them to continue keeping our fair city safe.

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