Auto thefts and burglaries have increased significantly in Chattanooga since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Chattanooga Police Department data.
The number of auto thefts and burglaries from autos combined went from 2,854 in 2019 to 5,003 in 2020, an increase of 75%.
As more people have returned to the office and their daily routines, fewer cars are being left parked for long periods of time, and auto crimes have decreased slightly this year compared to 2020. But the number of auto thefts and burglaries from January to July of 2021 was still 40% greater than the same period in 2019, according to Police Department data.
Sgt. Randy Raulston, the department’s auto crimes supervisor, said many of those crimes are committed by juveniles, who have been home rather than at school for much of the pandemic. It’s common for a group of juveniles to go through a neighborhood and check car by car for unlocked doors, he said.
“We’ve got plenty of video to back it up,” Raulston said.