WELLINGTON’S CRIME RATE UP, MOSTLY AGAINST CARS

Report attributes rise to increase in car thefts and break-ins.

Wellington’s crime rate rose slightly last year, driven largely by an increase in stolen cars and vehicle burglaries, according to a new report from the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office.

The rate went up 5.2 percent, Capt. Rolando Silva, commander of PBSO’s District 8 in Wellington, told the village council Tuesday night.

Residents are “being a little bit slothful when it comes to their cars,” Silva said, and they leave vehicles unlocked — a welcome mat for thieves.

The number of vehicles stolen in Wellington rose by 20 percent from 74 in 2016 to 113 last year, the report shows. Vehicle burglaries went up from 295 in 2016 to 337 in 2017.

Of those cars stolen and broken into, 80 to 85 percent were unlocked, Silva said. Some vehicles even had key fobs left inside, he added.

“Whatever you do, don’t leave your key fobs in unsecured cars,” Silva said. “It’s really just inviting them to come in.”

Councilman Michael Napoleone pointed to PBSO’s Operation Vigilance, an effort last year to encourage residents to lock up and not leave valuables in their vehicles. “With all the big push we had last year, the number’s gone up,” he said. “Where is the disconnect?”

Silva said that question is difficult to answer and pointed to door-to-door efforts by his deputies, including passing out magnets.

“At the end of the day, I think

there are just some folks who feel so safe,” he said.

Silva showed the council surveillance video from a home in Palm Beach Polo Golf and Country Club. In the video, several cars rolled down a residential street. A person jumped out of one, walked up to a Range Rover parked in front of a home, opened the driver’s door and stole items.

Some of the cars that cruised through Palm Beach Polo that night were stolen, Silva said. The thieves were from Broward County. “These guys are very sophisticated,” he said.

Residents need to lock their doors — even in gated communities like Palm Beach Polo, Mayor Anne Gerwig said. “There is no completely safe place,” she said. “There is no place you should leave your car door unlocked or your front door unlocked.”

There was good news in the report, Silva said: Many very low crime.” other crimes in the village The number of arrests in dropped, and the village’s Wellington rose from 1,095 rate of closed cases went in 2016 to 1,193 last year, up. While the crime rate in the PBSO report shows. Wellington is among the lowVice Mayor Michael Drahos est in the county, the clear- pointed to this and PBSO’s ance rate — the number of visibility in Wellington in crimes solved by PBSO — thanking Silva for his work is among the highest, Silva last year. said. That percentage went “All of us here prioritize up from about 28 percent in safety,” Drahos said. “I’m A crying 9-month-old baby 2016 to 33 percent last year. pleased with your perfor- was strapped in a swing

Silva also compared Welmance.” Tuesday morning while a lington’s rates of certain Wellington isn’t the only 23-year-old overdosed on crimes — residential burglarlocal community facing the heroin in the bathroom, Palm ies, vehicle burglaries and challenge of an increase in Beach County Sheriff ’s Office robberies — to other municcar thefts and break-ins. records state. ipalities of similar size: Boca While Royal Palm Beach Authorities arrested Olivia Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, saw a 6.6 percent drop in Devore on two counts of Palm Beach Gardens, Greena- crime, the number of stolen child neglect. Court records cres and Royal Palm Beach. vehicles jumped from 37 in indicate that as of Wednesday Wellington ranked below all 2016 to 61 last year, accordafternoon, Devore remained of the other cities in residening to a PBSO report. hospitalized. Once she is tial and vehicle burglaries Local crime rates are based released, she will make her per 100 residents, and was on seven categories: aggrafirst appearance before a second to last in robberies vated assault, rape, vehiper 100 residents. cle theft, robbery, burglary,

“This is the slide that tells murder, and larceny, which the larger picture as to what includes auto burglary and is happening in District 8,” shoplifting. Councilman John McGovern said. “... Wellington is not no-crime, but it’s very,