![Car Theft in Bloomington is up 60% from last year](https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2133/files/2021/06/189369170-4346600558686523-1254982549357395465-n.jpg)
Photo courtesy to BPD Facebook
Vehicle burglaries usually spike during the start of summer and being proactive in protecting yourself and your vehicle reduces the chance of you becoming a victim. Theft from Motor Vehicles are up nearly 60%.
Public Information officer John Fermon said 24 “Theft from Motor Vehicles” reports were made from Jan. 1 2021 to May 28 2021, that’s compared to the 15 reports made from last year from Jan. 1 2020 to May 28 2020.
Fermon said the Bloomington Police Department officers are on the lookout, but they cannot be everywhere.
“We don’t have enough people to put a cop on every neighborhood,” said Fermon. “We really have to use crime data to kind of allocate our resources where they need to go.”
On Wednesday, May 26 2021, the neighborhood off of Morris Ave (Lake Fork Rd/Rocky Ford Rd and Heather Hill Rd), experienced between 7-12 vehicle burglaries and at least one stolen vehicle – that was recovered by BPD. Third shift spent some time in that area taking reports and looking for other stolen property/vehicles.
Carjacking is a crime that is seeing an uptick nationwide. According to CBS, carjackings have increased by more than 100% in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Minneapolis. They are up more than 343% in Washington, D.C.
Fermon said the twin cities have been rather lucky—so far.
“We really haven’t seen that sort of increase. I don’t know if there is anything preventative, I know some cities are trying to put out information about what to do if you are a victim or how to be safe during a carjacking. We just haven’t had it, cross our fingers that it doesn’t come to the Bloomington-Normal area,” said Fermon.
Jan. 1 2020-May 28 2020 and Jan. 1 2021-May 28 2021 did not see any reports of carjacking.
A person commits vehicular hijacking when he or she knowingly takes a motor vehicle from the person or the immediate presence of another by the use of force or by threatening the imminent use of force. This offense is a felony.
Fermon said the BPD’s focus is on different crimes that allocate more data, for example shootings.
“A carjacking is a very serious offense, luckily we have missed that trend so far,” said Fermon.