The Plymouth Police Department recently shared tips to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle break-ins this summer – and officers have continued to see an increase in these crimes.

Since July 1, officers have responded to:

• 19 motor vehicles stolen, some of which have been stolen out of residential garages
• 31 theft from vehicles, the majority from unlocked vehicles

“People are taking garage door openers out of unlocked vehicles and using them to enter homes and burglarize,” said Plymouth Police Captain Michael Reed. “We’re also seeing cases with open or unlocked garage doors where cars have been stolen because keys were left in the vehicle.”

The Plymouth Police Department advises residents to follow these tips:

• Keep vehicle doors locked and garage doors shut, even while at home
• Remove keys and valuables from vehicles
• Keep garage door openers out of sight
• Lock all doors, including the service door from the garage into the house

“Most of these crimes are preventable,” Reed said. “Residents need to lock their doors.”

Residents who find themselves the victim of these crimes are encouraged to report it to the police by calling 911. Reporting these crimes allows law enforcement to better deal with the problem, observe trends and make arrests.

Watch the video below for tips from Sgt. Jeff Stimac.