The Philadelphia Police Department’s Ninth District reports an increase in theft crimes in 2021. A large percentage of them have been registered in the area around the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Kelly Drive.
Popular Tourist Spots Are Thieves’ Favorite Hunting Grounds
The museums and recreational activities near Fairmount attract many local visitors and tourists, and the thieves are taking advantage of the victims’ focus on entertainment.
Unfortunately, they forget to take necessary precautions like storing their valuables away from plain sight and locking their cars. This has led to an increase in vehicle thefts, thefts from cars, and pickpocketing cases.
Vehicle Thefts up by 57% In the Ninth District
Philadelphia police data show there have been 198 auto thefts in the Ninth District by October 2021, compared to 126 across the same period in 2020.
The district covers the area from Broad Street west to the Schuylkill River and from Poplar Street south to Lombard Street.
While the Ninth District saw a 57% increase, the whole city of Philadelphia had a three times lower rise in car thefts – 19.5%. In case you are wondering – Philadelphia is not one of the safest cities in America.
Authorities say they have detected a significant increase in vehicle thefts, particularly among motorcycles and scooters. They didn’t, however, disclose any numbers.
The Number of Theft From Cars Remains Roughly the Same, but Still High
The number of thefts from cars remained roughly the same in the analyzed period — with 478 cases, it’s just a 1.7% increase.
Nevertheless, these numbers are high, and most of them could have been prevented just by locking our cars and keeping our valuables in places not visible from the outside of the vehicle. Having the best car alarm can’t help if the door is not locked.
A police spokesperson said on Tuesday that people should take precautions like closing and locking all windows and doors, parking in well-lit areas, and never leaving keys inside the vehicle.
If you often leave car doors unlocked and forget your keys inside the vehicle, investing in a car GPS tracker with real-time notifications might be a good idea. It will immediately notify you if someone starts and moves your vehicle.
The Number of Non-violent Thefts Directly From People Is on the Rise
The Philadelphia Police Department’s Ninth District has also seen a steep increase in thefts directly from people. The category includes pickpockets and thefts that don’t include a weapon or use of force. Their numbers have risen by 140%, springing from 32 in 2020 to 77 in 2021. The city-wide numbers show a 14% increase in the same period.
