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.