TYLER (KYTX) - Ever leave your car running while you run inside the house? What about leaving your purse in your car while you work out?
You may want to think twice before doing so, especially this month. July is the number one month for auto crimes in Tyler and in Texas.
Just last year in Tyler there were more than 1,000 auto burglaries, meaning items were stolen out of people's cars. A lot of the time it's because a car is unlocked, but if you have items like a GPS or laptop, experts say the key is hiding them before you lock your car.
Nate Burnett from Lindale had heard about car thefts in East Texas, but he never thought it would happen to him - until a month ago.
"I was in my house sleeping and my car ended up getting stolen in the middle of the night," Burnett says.
He made the classic mistake of leaving his car unlocked.
"I live down in the middle of nowhere so I didn't think about it, so I actually left my keys on my seat," he says.
Fortunately Burnett was one of the lucky ones who got his car back.
"About a week later I got a call from Athens Police Department, telling me my car was in the impound," he says.
Tyler Police detective Gary King with the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force says many people make the same mistake Burnett did.
"Half of the vehicles that were stolen last year had the keys in them," King says. "Half the vehicles that were burglarized, the cars were left unlocked. So that's a really simple thing to do is lock your door, hide your things, take your keys."
The number one car stolen in Tyler and the state of Texas is the Ford truck. That's because they're extremely common here in the Lonestar State, so if you have a Ford, you need to be extra cautious.
Especially during the month of July, when most cars are stolen or burglarized in Texas. King says that's because of several factors.
"People are probably leaving their windows down more, maybe leaving the air conditioner on while they go inside to the store for a quick stop, kids are out of school," King says.
He wants you to know it can happen to anyone.
"Even if you live in a really nice neighborhood, these crimes are occurring in shopping malls, gyms, so we want everyone to know that we're all vulnerable," King says.
Just paying closer attention can keep you out of a situation like Burnett's.
"What I've learned is keep my keys well guarded, don't leave them in my truck, and to lock up, keep a better eye on my things," Burnett says.
