Two women claim vehicles were nearly stolen this week, CPD says vehicle thefts up 6% in 2024

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Early Saturday morning, Melissa Rapp said she was woke up by her daughter and the sound of her car alarm blaring through the Georgetown subdivision in southwest Columbia.

Rapp said by the time she had the chance to try and figure out what was happening, anyone in clear sight of her driveway was gone, leaving her to turn to video footage to put the pieces together.

"We looked at the nest camera and could clearly see that they spent about 20 minutes trying to break into the car and break in and steal the car," Rapp said. "It makes me feel really angry. It also makes me feel pretty violated that they've been in my space."

Video provided to ABC 17 News from Rapp shows a masked person wearing long pants, a hoodie and gloves walk up to the driveway of a home at 3 a.m.

At the start of the video, the individual is seen carrying a flashlight and looking into one vehicle. Just one minute later, another person is spotted wearing similar clothing, also with a flashlight in hand. The two then are seen walking toward another vehicle in the driveway.

Minutes later, video shows the two masked individuals take turns climbing through the back window of the driver's side of the 2011 Honda Pilot, after Rapp says the two smashed it.

They then appear to spend time in the vehicle, until the car alarm begins to go off at 3:20 a.m., sending the two running down the street.

"They cracked open the plastic covering over the steering column and you could see the marks where their tool.... I assume it was probably a screwdriver was used to pry it open and to try to get into the ignition where the keys go in," Rapp said.

Rapp said she contacted the Boone County Sheriff's Office after discovering what happened.

She said she's currently in the process of obtaining a rental car for the time being, and waiting to hear back from her insurance company to see if the vehicle can be repaired.

Sherri Cawley lives in the same neighborhood as Rapp and claims her vehicle was also nearly stolen Thursday morning. Cawley said her husband was preparing to leave for work, when he found someone had removed the plastic behind the steering wheel near the turn signal.

The vehicle is no longer able to be driven, forcing Cawley and her husband ordering parts to have the ignition replaced.

"It was frustrating. I joked on Facebook that the Grinch was trying to steal Christmas, and then last year they stole a catalytic converter off our other vehicle," Cawley said. "So, that was frustrating. It's just a time of year when you're not expecting anything like this and you've got other things to worry about."

According to Columbia Police Department Lt. Matt Gremore, vehicle thefts in Columbia are up 6% in 2024 compared to the year prior. Gremore said they've received 453 reports of stolen vehicles, compared to 428 in 2023.

Gremore said the southwest part of Columbia has reported the most vehicle thefts this year. He said the age of those committing the break-ins typically varies.

"I think it's all over the map," Gremore said. "I think that usually when we put it together, it's a string of multiple people doing multiple break ins in a night."

According to Gremore, thefts from a motor vehicle are down in Columbia in 2024. He said CPD has received 664 reports of larceny from a vehicle this year, compared to 806 in 2023.

The Boone County Sheriff's Office received 72 reports of motor vehicle thefts in 2024, down from 100 reports in 2023, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Gremore said he recommends the following tips to help people avoid becoming victim:

• Lock their vehicle;
• Refrain from keeping expensive items in their vehicle;
• Park underneath lights; and
• Utilize video cameras at their home.