Bracing for Break-ins

Watch the story in the March 5 show.

It's hard enough finding parking in and around Cincinnati. The last thing you need is to worry that your wheels won't be there when you get back. 

The Cincinnati Police Department says auto theft has surged 164% since 2021, with approximately 4,000 incidents in 2023 alone. This alarming increase is attributed to various factors, including thieves targeting specific car models. 

There's also the classic mistake of people leaving valuables in plain sight in their unattended vehicles.

Even the most cautious car owners can have trouble. Just ask Clifton resident Jack McGlone. He has four roommates, and all have had their car broken into while parked in the same lot.

“So we got broken into probably around 2 and 6 a.m., and it's not the first time that it happened,” McGlone says. “This time it was my roommate and I. All they did was get a couple pennies worth of change. It was more the cost of the windows that hurt us the most – and the inconvenience. 

“And it happened to my other roommates separately,” he says. ”We had the four cars parked in an off-street private parking lot, and we think we're a target of some sort. There's no security cameras back there besides the church next door. 

“So, between the off-street parking, and it being pretty dark back there, we've been targeted a couple of times, unfortunately.”

The men are installing cameras and lights to discourage a new round of break-ins. 

Everyone can benefit from following a few basic precautions. 

Lt. Jonathan Cunningham of the Cincinnati Police Department advises opting for well-lit parking areas without a lot of brush and with regular traffic. He also stresses the importance of securing valuables by either stashing them in the trunk, carrying them with you, or, if possible, leaving them at home.

“If you're going to be parking your vehicle in a community lot, leave your valuables at home,” he says. “We'll start seeing a reduction in trends when… people are finally listening. We're not leaving firearms unsecured in vehicles. We're not leaving laptops. We're not leaving expensive jewelry.”

Cunningham says this may not prevent a break-in, but it's a step towards deterrence.