TOLEDO, Ohio — According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) a car is stolen in the US every 31 seconds.
But there are some steps you can take to ensure your vehicle is not stolen.
A recent agency report says auto thefts cost drivers more than 8 billion dollars annually. According to the NHTSA, thieves look for items such as radios, GPS units, cell phones, iPads and laptops in vehicles.
Officer Prince Flores from the Toledo police shared how taking precautions to protect your vehicle can prove to be essential.
"You have to understand that these stats show us that an issue can potentially occur. Taking those precautions to ensure you're not a victim is key," said Flores.
Police recommend removing all valuables from your vehicle, locking your car and parking in well-lit areas.
Flores adds that these crimes can happen to anyone, and just because someone may live in a nice area doesn't mean it can't happen to them.
"Criminals are looking for that opportunity to strike because you forgot something. Your neighborhood may be nice, but what if a random person walks down the street and sees your vehicle open or running and attempts to take it from there?" states Flores. "It just means you have to be very cautious."
Want more from WTOL 11 News?
➡️ Download the WTOL 11 news app for Apple here or get it in the Google store here.
➡️ Get a fresh start to your morning and wrap up your day with the latest news and your WTOL 11 Weather forecast delivered right to your inbox!
WTOL 11's Your Morning Blast and Your Evening Blast deliver stories from northwest Ohio, southeast Michigan and beyond to keep you informed. Click here to get on the list!
➡️ Looking for the lowest current local gas prices? Check out the WTOL 11 gas price tracker, powered by Gas Buddy, here.
➡️ Stay up to date on what's happening in your community with a 24/7 live stream and on-demand content from WTOL 11+. Our free WTOL 11+ apps are available on Roku and Fire TV.
WTOL 11+ features the latest breaking news and weather, plus daily talk shows, coverage of your favorite sports teams from Locked On, fact-checking from VERIFY and the latest trending stories from Daily Blast Live.