Beware: Thieves target luxury cars

Police seek public’s help to thwart thefts

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Throughout Nassau County, and especially in the Five Towns, there has been an increase of vehicle thefts — the majority of them luxury cars, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Police are asking car owners to be more vigilant, and they are offering advice on how to better secure your vehicle.
The thefts have occurred at all times of the day and night, police say. The stolen cars were unlocked, and in some instances, key fobs were left inside.
Police are urging people to call 911 if they see any suspicious activity near their vehicles, and to give emergency operators as much information as possible. A license plate number is an “extremely valuable” piece of information, officials said.
In the Five Towns, there were nine car thefts from Sept. 24 to Oct. 5, according to police reports — three in Hewlett, three in Inwood and three in Woodmere. They included a Mercedes Benz, a Lexus, a Suzuki motorcycle and a Ford van.
The thefts are a problem not exclusive to the Five Towns, according to Detective Vincent Garcia of the NCPD’s Public Information Office. “I can tell you that there have been five since October 1 — three Audis and two Land Rovers,” he said. “I don’t have locations, but they have been countywide.” Asked about any specific similarities among the thefts, or whether there was any pattern, the department declined to comment any further.

The 4th Precinct’s Auxiliary Police, which cover the Five Towns, have increased their patrols. “The villages have called us, concerned about cars over the recent holidays,” said Deputy Inspector Danny Gluck, the unit’s commanding officer. “As a result, we’ve been stepping up our patrols.”
More patrolling officers, Gluck said, “… help with thefts and vandalism. We stage a lot of cars, which act as a deterrent. The perpetrators tend to move on to other areas without patrols.”
Jonathan Polakoff, a Hewlett Harbor resident, said he has heard about the car thefts and is vigilant about keeping his car safe. “I told my wife, who very often leaves the doors of the car unlocked, to start locking it,” Polakoff said. “I believe Hewlett Harbor might be more secure than some other towns, as we hired our own private security.”

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Tips for preventing car thefts
Always lock your vehicle, even when it’s parked in your driveway or garage.
Always take your keys or fob with you.
Never leave or hide a smart key, valet key or spare key anywhere in or on your vehicle, no matter where you park it.
If possible, park in a locked garage.
Keep the exterior of homes and driveways well illuminated.
Close all your vehicle’s windows when parked.
Secure your garage door opener to prevent access to your home.

Source: NCPD