Growing target in car break-ins: ID theft

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By James Koh, Eyewitness News

Summary

Discreet car burglaries resulting in identity theft are becoming more common in Bakersfield and throughout the nation, according to police.

Story Created: Apr 5, 2010 at 6:27 PM PDT

Story Updated: Apr 5, 2010 at 6:28 PM PDT

Growing target in car break-ins: ID theft
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Discreet car burglaries resulting in identity theft are becoming more common in Bakersfield and throughout the nation, according to police.

Thieves are finding key holes on your car door handle and punching out the entire lock to break in to cars.

"Punching the lock is becoming more and more common in breaking into cars because it's easier to do," said Sgt. Mary DeGeare with Bakersfield police.

Body shop owners are seeing a similar trend.

"We see it more and more," said Jack Hester, owner of a southwest Bakersfield Maaco. "This type of break in versus the actual breaking of the glass is getting more popular."

And once the burglars are gain entry, police say items like purses and stereos are no longer the thefts of choice.

"Some of the younger burglars will take the car stereos because they know they have a market for them," Sgt. DeGeare said. "But the experienced car burglars know they can come in and get as much as they can from your debit cards, credit cards and checkbooks."

Police say the punched out locks are harder to notice as signs of burglary versus a broken window, even for the car's owner.

And because the burglars are stealing a victim's identity instead of physical property, many times the victim won't notice the theft for hours, giving thieves a longer head start to use your personal information.

Hester says the newer key locks that are built into the plastic handle of a car are easier to punch out.

Many older model cars have the key hole built into the actual metal door frame making it more difficult to break into.

Police say areas like grocery stores and shopping plazas are common areas where this type of crime occurs but also add that parking lots of gyms are also a hotbed for these burglaries.

"They know they have an hour, at least an hour, to break into the car, steal the debit card, the credit card, and the checks," DeGeare said.