New Year’s Day One of Biggest for Car Thefts

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the day of recovery after New Year's Eve is one of the worst for auto theft.

New Year's Day ranks second, behind Labor Day, for car thefts. Nationally, 2,011 vehicles were stolen January 1st 2014.

Yakima is ranked 15th in the nation in New Year's Day auto thefts, but well down from 3rd 7 years ago.  Officials and police say it's largely due to unattended vehicle warming up in the driveway or in front of a home.

Police say make sure and secure your car with a remote starter and don't leave it running by itself.  Remote starters allow you to start and warm up with the doors locked.

Part of the reason New Year's Day thefts are so high is because so many people are indoors, off work, or sleeping.  For Labor Day, it's due to high numbers of people leaving town on vacation, with their vehicles being taken while they are gone.