Police in North Dakota warn vehicle owners to lock their cars before they lose them

NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — This month is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding you to lock your car — or you’ll lose it.

According to government figures, more than one million vehicles were stolen in the United States in 2023. That means a motor vehicle is stolen every 31 seconds.

And according to one study, North Dakota had the third highest number of car thefts in the country over the past decade.

The high number of car thefts costs vehicle owners over eight billion dollars annually.

For this reason, the government has established National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month.

When you park your vehicle, don’t forget to take the vehicle key with you. You should not leave it in the vehicle. Close and lock all windows and doors when you park. Make sure you park in a well-lit area. And never leave valuables like your wallet or phone in the car.

You can also protect your vehicle by purchasing horn alarms, steering wheel locks, immobilizers and vehicle recovery systems.

If you believe your vehicle has been stolen, not only call 911 immediately, but also contact your auto insurance company.