by Alex Lloyd Gross
Even though thefts from autos are down,there have still been over 6000 reports of someone breaking into cars and stealing what is inside. Of course, do not leave anything of value inside your car. This includes the registration and insurance. “Now, with today’s technology on newer cars, thieves can take that info, get a key fob made for your car, now they have your address”, said Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Corporal Jasmine Reilly displays anti theft materials during a press conference.
There has been a recent uptick in thefts from vehicles in the center city area and some areas that surround center city. There is a business on North Front Street that does not allow guns inside, so people leave their guns in their cars. “There have been guns stolen from cars and when that happens, we pull the permit of the person.Now we have another gun on the street we cannot track,” Vanore said. If a vehicle is locked thieves wil break a window, officers said during a news confernce to address this issue.
Since May 2024, multiple clusters of vehicle vandalisms have been reported, primarily involving broken car windows and thefts from vehicles. These incidents have occurred in the following areas:
- May 23, 2024 2900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue
- May 30, 2024 2600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue
- June 16, 2024 200 block of Brown Street
- June 21, 2024 700 block of North 5th Street (Arrest Made)
- July 22, 2024 600 block of North 19th Street
- July 23, 2024 700 block of North 22nd Street
- July 26, 2024 2100 block of Walden Street
- July 27, 2024 400 and 500 blocks of North Front Street
- July 28, 2024 2200 block of Sansom Street
Following the investigation into the vandalisms and car thefts on the 700 block of North 5th Street, detectives identified and arrested Isaac Tate on July 13, 2024, in connection with multiple theft from autos on North 5th Street and the 1200 block of North 7th Street. Tate, 55 years old is still in custody
Philadelphia Police are asking those with cameras in the area to call police to review the footage. Your camera could capture something the police are looking for even if everything appears normal.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Central Detective Division at (215) 686-3093 or call the police department’s anonymous tip line at (215) 686-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted online at www.phillypolice.com.