Car thefts in Springfield going down, police say

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — For more than a decade, Springfield police have been fighting an uphill battle when it comes to stolen cars.

But it appears their message urging people to lock their doors and not leave their cars running is finally taking hold.

According to Chief Paul Williams, over the last 4 years, there has been a 50 percent decrease in motor vehicle thefts and the police department credits local drivers for playing a crucial role in making sure their cars are safe and secure.

“In 2023, we had 433 vehicles stolen, and in 2024 we had 362. So that’s a that’s a pretty significant decrease just in the last year,” said Cris Swaters with the Springfield Police Department.

Police say multiple factors are leading to the drop in stolen vehicles.

“You know, we’re coming at this from a bunch of different angles, both from public information and getting those safety tips out there, providing the resources like those free wheel locks for Kia and Hyundai owners. And then internally, our detectives work hard every single day to work on those cases, solve those cases and hold the people accountable,” says Swaters.

SPD said the department is building cases that lead to prosecutions and prison time.

“When we get those investigations closed and can get those people held accountable and in jail, there is a direct correlation in the vehicle theft numbers as well,” said Swaters.

Numbers released by the FBI this week show vehicle thefts went up 12.6 percent across the country in 2023 compared to 2022.

One of the easiest ways criminals steal cars is when people leave their cars running and unattended.

“Leaving your vehicle running, whether it’s in your driveway or at a gas station, if the keys are inside and the vehicle is running, that is actually against city ordinance. And you could be cited by officers who are patrolling in those areas where they where they know things like that happen, particularly during the winter. They really want to focus on education over citations,” said Swaters.

SPD has given away about 1500 steering wheel locks to Kia and Hyundai owners after those vehicles became targets because of a social media trend. contact the department if you’re interested in obtaining one.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.