Motor vehicle thefts and vandalism are becoming a ‘troubling trend’ across James City County, police say

JAMES CITY COUNTY – Thefts and vandalism involving motor vehicles are becoming an increasingly common problem in James City County, officials say.

While these incidents were traditionally limited to unlocked vehicles, offenders are reportedly using more extreme measures to gain entry, indicating a troubling escalation in criminal behavior.

“If you think it’s not your problem, think again,” James City County Detective Jesse Harmon said. “They’re not just tugging on door handles anymore – they’re breaking windows.”

Police are urging the community to take the following proactive steps to reduce their risk of being victimized:

• Remove valuables from vehicles.
• Lock all doors.
• Keep windows fully rolled up.
• Review home security footage if tampering activity is suspected.
• Check to see if an ignition-related recall has been issued for your vehicle and, if so, address the issue promptly.
• Consider placing a small location-monitoring device inside your vehicle.

Data shows that thefts of vehicles have been trending downward nationwide in recent months, but the crime remains prevalent, with hundreds of thousands of Americans impacted every year.

One vehicle is stolen every 48 seconds in the U.S., according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Thefts of personal valuables and high-priced auto parts, like catalytic converters, are even more common.

JCCPD underscores that vehicle tampering, vandalism and theft often become gateway crimes.

“Stolen vehicles are frequently connected to more serious offenses,” Harmon said. “Things like identity theft, fraud, transportation of narcotics and weapons, even violent crime.”

Some vehicle models are higher risk: Owners of Hyundais and Kias may want to be especially cautious. Thefts of those models now account for 14% of all stolen cars due to widely circulated internet instructions describing how easy it is to hotwire them, according to Forbes.

The top 10 most commonly stolen vehicles in the U.S. include the Hyundai Elantra, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Honda Civic, Kia Optima, Ford F150, Toyota Camry, Honda CR-V and Nissan Altima, according to the most recent NICB data.

Anyone who witnesses potential criminal activity involving automobiles is asked to contact the police as soon as possible. Those who vandalize or steal vehicles will face criminal charges, including jail time or substantial fines.

Vehicle thefts in the area can be reported to the James City County Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit at 757‑603‑6062. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Line at 1‑888‑LOCK‑U‑UP or submit a tip online at P3Tips.com.

“Don’t be an easy target,” Harmon said. “If you see something out of the ordinary or that strikes you as potentially suspicious, call 911. Sometimes, the smallest bit of information can be the piece that solves the crime. You aren’t bothering us when you call — we are trained to quickly evaluate information and make sure it gets to the right place.”