BPD warning about how to protect your car from thieves this winter [Video]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Cold weather is here and the Birmingham Police Department says more car thefts tend to happen around this time.

Many people are guilty of leaving the car running to warm up or stay warm and Officer Truman Fitzgerald says thieves are keeping an eye out to jump on any opportunity. Sometimes the cars that are stolen still have keys in the ignition.

“Someone left the car running whether it was to run into the house or a business and in that split second, someone jumped in their car and drove off,” said Truman Fitzgerald, BPD Asst. Public Information Officer.

The good news is auto thefts in Birmingham are down 16% year to date. One year ago, there were 1,653 thefts. Now, we’re at 1,388 so far in 2024.

Fitzgerald explains that those numbers also include instances with “unauthorized use of a vehicle.” This means a friend or family …