August 16, 2018

CONTACT: Lindsey Wiles

Communications Manager

lwiles@mariettaga.gov

770.794.5509

MARIETTA – The Marietta Police Department would like to remind citizens that thefts from autos are on the rise, not only in Marietta, but throughout the region.

One trend the police department has noticed is the increase in “door flippers”. These are criminals looking for targets of opportunity in business districts and residential neighborhoods. These “door flippers” walk through parking lots and flip the door handles of cars to see if the vehicle has been left unlocked. Many thefts from vehicles are occurring due to this increasing crime trend. This is in addition to other crimes of opportunity where criminals observe valuables left out in plain view inside of a vehicle and break windows in order to steal the items.

These crimes are preventable and the heartache of replacing valuables and possibly vehicle windows can be avoided if vehicle owners would remember three simple steps: LOCK, TAKE and HIDE.

LOCK - Make sure you remember to always lock your doors

TAKE - Take your keys with you and don’t leave them in the vehicle

HIDE - Hide your valuables completely out of sight.