VEHICLE THEFT PREVENTION
The Appling County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind citizens, July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. This July, during National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is committed to continuing to help drivers learn how to protect their car. Nearly half of all vehicles are stolen when drivers fail to take simple precautions. In the U.S., a vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds, and more car thefts are reported in the summer than any other season. There is no better time for citizens to take the right precautions, and prevent vehicle theft.
In 2014, there were 689,527 motor vehicles reported stolen in the United States. Nearly 45 percent of these vehicles are never recovered. The estimated total value of vehicles stolen nationwide is more than $4.5 billion.
Don’t Make Your Vehicle a Target
Nearly half of vehicle theft is due to driver error, such as leaving your keys in the vehicle. Use common sense when you park by:
- Always taking your keys and not leaving them in or on your vehicle
- Closing windows and locking doors
- Parking in well-lit areas
- Never leaving valuable in your vehicle, especially where they can be seen
- Never leaving the area while your vehicle is running
- Keeping your vehicle in your garage, if possible
Protect Your Vehicle
There are several different types of antitheft systems and devices designed to make vehicles more difficult to steal or easier to trace and recover. Here’s how some of them work:
Audible and Visible Devices deter theft by bringing attention to an unauthorized attempt to steal or enter your vehicle, such as a horn alarm. Visible devices create a visual threat/warning/deterrence, such as the use of steering-wheel locks- as well as theft-deterrent decals, flashing lights, and window etching.
Immobilizing -Type Devices prevent thieves from bypassing your vehicle’s ignition system and hot-wring the vehicle. Some incorporate computer chips in ignition keys or disable the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine.
Vehicle Recovery Systems: These devices use electronic transmission technology that helps law enforcement reveal the location of stolen vehicles – and possibly catch thieves in action.
YOUR SHERIFF’S OFFICE, YOUR COMMUNITY.
The ACSO currently has one (1) staff member attending Basic Law Enforcement Mandate Training for the period of July 7 through September 22, 2017. On Tuesday, July 11, the ACSO conducted its second quarter safety inspection. The ACSO was pleased to welcome the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at the Baxley Municipal Airport for the filming of a training video on Thursday, July 13. ACSO Lt. Kenny Wright participated in the video. Pastor Wayne Williamson of Friendship Congregational Baptist Church, was the Chaplin for the week.
For the seven-day period of July 7, 2017 through July 13, 2017, the Appling County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) provided the following services:
Deputies/Investigators, wrote 25 citations, made 18 arrests, performed 25 Sex Offender Compliance Verifications, issued 23 warnings, served 18 criminal and 25 civil papers for various courts, completed 26 incident reports, and provided security for Juvenile Court. There were 13 vehicle crashes worked by deputies, with assists from the Georgia State Patrol. Deputies patrolled 6,553 miles for the period. The Sheriff’s Office considered it an honor to provide four (4) funeral escorts throughout the week. Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office initiated seven (7) new criminal investigations and completed/closed two (2) current cases.
The Appling County Jail provided protection for our citizens by safely housing an average of 80 inmates during the current period. Jailers completed 26 new inmate intakes and processed 24 inmate releases, which includes inmates from other counties that request our assistance in housing their inmates. The medical unit provided 89 medical checks for the week and food service served 1,714 meals.
Our 911 Emergency Call Center Dispatchers received and dispatched 783 calls for service, of which 228 were emergency calls directly to 911. These numbers do not include routine communications between dispatch and units nor does it include the normal calls for training and drills.