The FBI says car thefts in Bakersfield rose 10% last year.

Some blame passage of Proposition 47 in 2016 that reduced the penalties for some non-violent crimes, but Police Sgt. Ryan Kroeker says we’ve always been popular with thieves because many residents drive older Hondas and Chevy pickups. Kroeker says most thieves like to swipe multiple vehicles then chop them up for parts, and they target any place where cars are parked near each other.

Kelli Pierce