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Keys And Valuables Left In Vehicles Tempt Thieves

A couple of vehicle thefts and one mistaken identity of a rental car highlights how important it is to NOT leave keys in car even if for a couple of hours while shopping on Main Street.

Two similar rental cars, the same color, were parked at 531 Main Street earlier this fall. One of the drivers mistook the Infinity Q60 for his rented Q80. Both rental car drivers left keys in their cars, which have a push button ignition. The first driver returned to what he thought was his car and drove away. It was the second driver that realized it was the wrong rental car. The Park City Police Department helped reconcile the problem and tracked down the driver.

A 2007 KIA Sorento was stolen from the 2200 block of Little Bessie Avenue in Prospector. It was reported at about noon on December 3. The owners left keys in the car to allow their daughter to access the car while they were away on vacation. Park City Police Department Phil Kirk says they identified the vehicle on Thursday in Kearns and it has since been returned to the owner.

A Honda VR 7 was broken into on the Iron Horse Loop the first of November. It resulted in the owner’s purse and keys being stolen. They believe the perpetrators returned a couple of weeks later to steal the vehicle.

“It’s much more common, that somebody has for whatever reason left a spare key or keys in the vehicle and it makes it very easy to steal the vehicle. Very few that I've ever recalled where the cars are actually hot-wired."

This vehicle has also been recovered from an impound lot in Kearns.
Summit County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Andrew Wright says they have dealt with multiple vehicle thefts and break ins in recent months.

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, law enforcement asks everyone to remove valuables from vehicles, keeping in mind that keys or valuable items left in a vehicle, make it easy to become a victim. 
 
 
 

KPCW reporter Carolyn Murray covers Summit and Wasatch County School Districts. She also reports on wildlife and environmental stories, along with breaking news. Carolyn has been in town since the mid ‘80s and raised two daughters in Park City.
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