Drivers urged to lock their vehicles

After four vehicles were stolen on Monday, law enforcement is calling on residents to lock up.

Monday’s reports came into the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and the Kalispell Police Department, according to a news release from Sheriff Chuck Curry. 

The vehicles were recovered, but the thefts could have been prevented.

“We’re not having forceful entries of vehicles,” sheriff’s Sgt. Sam Cox said. “They are going through vehicles that are unlocked with valuables left in plain sight.”

Cox advised people to lock their vehicle doors and conceal things such as phone chargers and navigation systems.

According to the news release, a vehicle is stolen every 44 seconds in the United States, and nearly half of the thefts are due to driver error.