Winter Sees Car Theft Spike in Yakima County

Auto theft numbers are expected to spike this winter just like they do every year in Yakima County. Many of the thefts are the result of people leaving vehicles warming up in driveways.

Deputy Jason Pepper with the Yakima County Sheriff's Office says he sees a lot of car theft victims when it gets cold.

"We have a saying," he says. "The keys to stopping auto theft are the keys." That's the motto and it means you need to keep your keys in your hand. He says the safest thing you can do to make sure you're not a victim while you're waiting for your car to warm up is to purchase a remote starter with built-in safety protections.
On average 300-500 vehicles are stolen within Yakima's city limits every year, authorities say.