Ohio in top 10 of stolen vehicles per state volume, according to NICB

( WDTN ) — July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, and Ohio falls at No. 8 in the top 10 states by volume of vehicle thefts.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) , 31,647 vehicles were stolen in Ohio last year, marginally below New York.

Throughout July, AAA has been offering drivers tips on how to protect their cars.

Many of these tips mimic the “9 p.m. routine” that various Miami Valley police precincts have been reminding residents of on social media . Some may seem obvious, but remain effective:

• Park in well-lit areas
• Never leave your vehicle while running, even for a short period
• Keep windows and doors completely shut and locked
• Hide valuables out of sight in the trunk or glove box
• Store key fobs away from your front door

Experts say thieves are more likely to steal an unlocked car even with no keys, eyeing easy targets. Additionally, many use devices that copy key fob signals to “trick” cars into unlocking.

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