We’ve been doing not too bad so far this year in terms of harsh winter cold. Compared with some other states, which saw extremely low temperatures in the negative teens and below, Greenville has fared relatively well.
But the Greenville Police Department still wants to warn residents that winter can bring a different set of issues.
Namely, the increase in smash and steal crimes and car thefts.
Lt. Mike Austin of the Greenville Police Department says criminals are out looking for easy pickings: and that’s cars left unlocked and/or unattended.
“With these colder temperatures we’ve seen a lot more people wanting to warm their cars up in the morning,” Austin said. “We just want to remind you to stay safe and not become a victim, by locking your doors and not allowing your car to run unattended.”
Auto thefts nationwide increase about 25 percent each winter, and officers warn that car thieves will use the early morning hours as a prime time to steal vehicles that are defrosting while their owners are unaware inside.
