Chapel Hill car break-ins decline

Anna Difiore has never made a habit of leaving valuable items in her car.

But on the night of Aug. 18, she thought her backpack full of electronics would be safe, and so she left the bag in her blue 2004 convertible BMW.

That night, someone stole $3,000 worth of items from Difiore’s car, according to Chapel Hill police reports.

During August and September in 2010, police responded to 60 car break ins, according to police reports. Police have seen 61 break-ins since August this year.

While those numbers have remained stable and could still increase, break-ins have been on the decline in recent years, according to police data.

Between 2009 and 2010, the number of vehicle break-ins during the months of August and September decreased by 37.5 percent, according to Chapel Hill police records.

Randy Young, spokesman for the UNC Department of Public Safety, said that decrease in vehicle break-ins might be related to a decline in GPS usage.

He said having a visible GPS, or even suction marks on the windshield, can make cars an easy target for thieves.

In recent years, the popularity of the GPS has decreased because most people use their smart phones to navigate, Young said.

Lt. Kevin Gunter, spokesman for the Chapel Hill Police Department, said in an email that car break-ins in many cases are a crime of opportunity.

“We have found those vehicles left unlocked or locked with valuables left in plain view are the most targeted,” he said.
Gunter said Chapel Hill police have increased patrols and launched public awareness campaigns informing residents how to protect themselves and their valuables.

Chapel Hill police also sponsors programs such as the Neighborhood Watch program and Community Safety Partnership.

The programs combine law enforcement and community efforts to alert police officers if they see suspicious activity.

Still, Difiore said she is now much more cautious with her belongings.

“It was frustrating losing all that stuff,” Difiore said. “It’s not hard to replace a computer, but it’s hard if you can’t get any of your files back.”

The 21-year-old UNC student lost her laptop, iPod and digital camera, according to Chapel Hill Police reports.

“It helps to park in well-lit areas and remove temptation to thieves, like valuables in plain view,” Young said.

He also said people should report suspicious activity to the police.

“People don’t understand that 911 is not necessarily for life and death situations,” Young said.

“If you see something, say something because it might be your car next time.”

Contact the City Editor at city@dailytarheel.com.