ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The number of auto thefts in St. Petersburg has decreased for a second consecutive year, according to data provided by the St. Petersburg Police Department.
The police department said Friday there were 978 auto thefts in St. Petersburg in 2017. The figure is a decrease compared to the 1,095 auto thefts in 2016 and 1,523 auto thefts in 2015.
“While auto theft remains a serious juvenile crime issue, St. Petersburg Police is making progress in reducing the numbers,” the police department wrote in an email to 10News.
St. Petersburg police cited multiple factors for the decrease in auto thefts, which includes:
- Collaborating with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, other law enforcement offices, the state attorney and judges.
- Habitual Offender Monitoring Enforcement (H.O.M.E.) – Officers are assigned to do regular home checks on juvenile offenders on home detention.
- Investigative Support Unit – Focusing on tracking youth gang members and their activities.
- Public education with weekly social media posts to remind people to lock their cars.
"These numbers are encouraging,” said St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway in a statement. “They show that our efforts, and the cooperative efforts of our citizens, are paying off.”
St. Petersburg police have tracked the number of auto thefts in the city dating back to 2001.
10News has covered car thefts in Pinellas County extensively during the past year. There are several links posted below of 10News' previous coverage.
Oct. 18, 2017: How to reduce car thefts in Pinellas County
Oct. 12, 2017: 'We're doing all we can' to curb teen car theft epidemic, Pinellas County sheriff says
Oct. 12, 2017: St. Petersburg police chief says car thefts are declining
