The Durham Police Department wants you to be aware of a recent  increase in motor vehicle thefts. During the month of August 80 vehicles were stolen in Durham, up nearly 60 percent from the previous month. In 30 of those cases owners left their car unattended with the engine running or their keys in an unlocked car.

On average, over the last five years, 49 cars are stolen per month.

Durham police are providing the following vehicle theft prevention and safety tips:

• Don’t leave your car unlocked
• Never leave your car running, especially while it is unattended or unlocked
• Do not leave a spare key near your vehicle
• Park in your garage or well-lit and highly visible areas whenever possible
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle, but if you must, make sure the items aren’t visible
• Use common sense and trust your instincts

Anyone with information about stolen vehicles  is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.