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Ohio County Authorities Warn of Vehicles Stolen with Keys Left Inside

Photo by Ian Hicks Local law enforcement is urging residents to keep their vehicles locked after multiple reports of vehicles stolen from victims who left them unsecured with the keys inside them.

Ohio County law enforcement officials are warning residents to be vigilant after a recent uptick in vehicles stolen from victims who seem to be making it too easy for criminals.

Over the last two weeks, there have been multiple reports of stolen vehicles in which the vehicles were left unlocked with the keys still inside, according to a release from the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department.

Philip Stahl, spokesman for the Wheeling Police Department, which is assisting the sheriff’s department with some of the investigations, said opportunity — such as keys left in an unlocked vehicle — often is the biggest factor in property crimes.

“Get yourself into the habit of locking your car and your home. Force yourself to get into that habit,” he said.

According to Stahl, the police department has been putting such warnings out regularly for years. But bad habits sometimes prove hard to break.

“Sometimes the message doesn’t seem to get across,” Stahl acknowledged. “Ultimately, it’s up to people themselves to protect their property.”

Stahl said he’s not aware of any particular neighborhood that’s been targeted, nor could he say exactly how many stolen vehicle reports there have been in the city.

But he said the summer months in general often lead to an increase in crime, property-related and otherwise. That includes not only stolen vehicles, but money, electronics, purses, wallets and other valuables left behind in unlocked cars, even when the owners have taken the keys with them.

“School’s out of session, people are outside enjoying the weather, and unfortunately that seems to be the time people decide to get into some mischief. … We’re definitely busier in the warmer months, that’s for sure,” he said.

The sheriff’s department release advises residents, in addition to locking vehicles and keeping valuables out of sight, to leave vehicles in a well-lighted area whenever possible. It states deputies have identified a suspect, but the investigation continues.

Sheriff Tom Howard couldn’t be reached Monday for further comment.

Anyone with information regarding stolen vehicles should call the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department at 304-234-3680 or the Wheeling Police Department at 304-234-3664.

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