Churchgoers may feel safe while attending services on Sunday mornings, but that safety and trust should not extend to the parking lot outside.
In the last two months of 2007, 389 people reported vehicle break-ins to the Eugene Police Department. Many of the calls came from outside churches late on Sunday mornings.
Eugene Police spokeswoman Kerry Delf said there was a “little rash” of church thefts at the beginning of November, and although it has eased up since then, those who attend Sunday services must still take more care to protect their valuables.
“When thieves know people will be inside and away from their cars for a couple of hours, that’s when they break in,” Delf said. “Services present a known pattern of behavior, and that’s a part of what led to that rash.”
First Baptist Church on Coburg Road appointed volunteer parking lot greeters about a year and a half ago. The greeters’ job was to stand in the parking lot Sunday mornings and make sure drivers locked their cars and stowed their valuables out of sight.
On Oct. 28, thieves broke into a woman’s car at First Baptist Church, stole her garage door opener and used it to burglarize her house.
“We’ve had theft several different times,” said the woman, who preferred to remain anonymous. “We’re a little naive about that kind of thing.”
Delf said churchgoers “may have feelings of comfort and trust, but when you’re going to leave your car for a longer period of time in a predictable way, you’re definitely vulnerable.”
Members at several other Eugene churches contacted said most thieves targeted unlocked cars in the parking lots. Since the thefts, the churches have warned congregants about the dangers of leaving their cars unlocked.
Staying wary of theft is especially important for those who live in Eugene, said Delf, because “we have a high rate of property crime in our area.” Eugene citizens report thousands of vehicle break-ins to EPD each year, and Delf predicts that reported break-ins are “significantly lower than the number of actual car break-ins.”
“We have major underreporting on this,” Delf said. “We really want people to report it to know what the patterns are.”
Drivers commonly make the mistake of leaving valuables under blankets. Hiding things may seem safer than leaving them in plain sight, but “thieves will look in and go, ‘Hey, something’s covered with a blanket. That looks good,’” Delf said. On Nov. 4, one thief went so far as to steal a laundry basket of unwashed clothing to see if it contained anything valuable, according to a Nov. 9 EPD press release.
The best way to curb a thief’s temptation is to lock valuables in the trunk or take them out of the car altogether, Delf said. All forms of identification count as valuables, especially if thieves get hold of a key or garage door opener along with a matching house address.
Churches aren’t the only places where people should be wary. Delf said thieves see an opportunity whenever area residents “go inside for a couple of hours.”
“They’re out on the street, easier to get into than a residence, and it’s the easiest and safest way for thieves to make some money,” said Delf.
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