The Centralia Police Department is seeing a disturbing increase in stolen vehicle reports since the start of the year.
Police Chief Greg Dodson says they have received 12 reports so far this year compared to 54 for all of 2020. The only common factor was the vehicles were left unsecured with the keys inside the vehicle. There have been no similarities in suspects or geography.
Dodson says these have all been crimes of opportunity and cold weather is playing a role. He reports people are leaving cars running to keep them warm or to warm up prior to driving.
Dodson says they are just asking the public to not leave themselves vulnerable to this opportunistic crime.
