98 Vehicles Stolen in La Mesa During First Half of 2013

During the first six months of this year, 98 vehicles were reported stolen in La Mesa, down one percent compared to the same time period in 2012, according to the weekly newsletter released by the La Mesa Police Department.

Of those stolen vehicles, 73 percent were recovered by the end of June. 50 percent of thefts occurred in a parking lot, 29 percent occurred on the street, and 15 percent were from a driveway. The top three stolen vehicles by make were: Honda (29 percent), Toyota (10 percent), and Ford (8 percent). 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half of nationwide vehicle thefts are due to driver error like leaving keys in the ignition or leaving doors unlocked. In the newsletter the Police Department said that vehicle theft is a crime of opportunity and points to this link for more tips on preventing thefts.