Cape Coral reports increase in thefts during pandemic

Cape Coral Police Department reports a decrease in car thefts, but an increase in general thefts.

They're warning people to lock they're car doors and take valuables out of your cars.

AS PEOPLE STAY INDOORS BECAUSEOF THE PANDEMICLAW ENFORCEMEIS NOTICING A DROP IN VIOLENTCRIME NATIONWIDE.BUT AN UPTICK IN CAR BREAK INS.BUT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK VERYDIFFERENT IN SOME SOUTHWESTFLORIDA CITIES.FOUR IN YOUR CORNER’S RACHELLOYD TELLS US ABOUT THE CRIMERATE LOCALLY.

RACHEL?57-103111-116LLINTRO: CAPE CORAL REPORTS ANINCREASE IN GENERAL THEFTS.NUMBERS ARE ACTUALLY DOWN IN THECITY FOR CAR BREAK-INS ATHEFTS, BUT THEY SAY DON’T RISKIT.

TAKE YOUR VALUABLES AND LOCKUP WHEN YOU GO INSIDE.MAJOR CITIES ACROSS THE U.S.HAVE REPORTED MORE CAR THEFTSDURING THE PANDEMIC.NEW YORK HAS SEEN A 63% JUMP.AND L.A.

REPORTS A 17 PERCENTHIKE IN CAR THEFTS SO FAR THISYEAR COMPARED TO 2019.THAT’S NOT THE CASE IN CAPECORAL.Last year we had 31 and thisyear we’ve had 23 to date.I ASKED FOR CRIME STATS FOR THELAST THREE MONTHS COMPARED TOTHIS SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

MASTERSERGEANT PATRICK O’GRADY WITHCAPE PD SAYS GENERAL THEFTSHOWEVER HAVE JUMPED FROM 81 TO126 DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.HE SAYS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT HASALSO JUMPED BY 23 PERCENT.

BOTHCRIMES CAN BE A DIRECT IMPACT OFTHE PANDEMIC.That can also be caused bypeople being at home, losingtheir jobs, self-medicatingthrough alcohol and drugs.AND FORT MYERS POLICE DEPARTMENTHAS NOTICED A PRELIMINARYDECLINE IN CRIMES ACROSS THEBOARD FROM THE LAST FEW MONTHSCOMPARED TO 2019.Last year we had 132 assaults.This year we’re at 89 in thattime period.THEY’VE SEEN A 19 PERCENTDECREASE IN CAR THEFTS, BUTOFFICER KRISTIN CAPUZZI SAYSDON’T LET THE DECLINE MAKE YOUCOMFORTABLE.

STAY VIGILANT ANDPROTECT YOUR BELONGS.

JUSTBECAUSE BREAK INS ARE DOWNDOESN’T MEAN THEY’RE NOTHAPPENING.If your doors are locked andthere’s nothing is visible,they’re most of the time