Vehicle crime in the heights

View Vandalism and Theft from vehicles in Bernal Heights in a larger map

I'm particularly interested in writing a story about the great number of theft involving vehicles in Bernal Heights. In all the reports that I've been receiving from the Ingleside Police Station they have been warning against vehicular thefts.

The last one had a Captain's message that said:
"Prevent Your Car from Being Stolen

After reading numerous reports on stolen and recovered cars, there are a
few common traits:
· Most of the stolen cars are 1990's Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans.
· The criminals are using a type of "master key."
· The theft takes less than a couple minutes.
· The method is commonly known throughout the criminal community.

So how do you prevent your car from being targeted for theft? The cheapest
method is to use a steering locking device, commonly seen as a red, metal
bar. An alarm system can be pricey, but effective. Ingleside Station
officers have made several stolen auto and auto tampering arrests, but the
impact has been minimal. Until we are able to arrest every auto thief,
prevention is the best alternative."

And in another e-mail:
"We have seen a rise in the numbers of incidents of thefts from vehicles in the Bernal Heights area. You can prevent yourself from being a victim of this crime by removing all valuables from your vehicle while parked. Just putting the items in the glove box or center console will not dissuade the criminals. iPod charging cords left out and suction cup rings on your windshield will entice a criminal to break into your car to steal your small electronics and other items of value."