Keep an eye on your ride: 43 reported car thefts in last week

DOWNEY – Residents have called in 43 car theft reports since Sept. 27, a higher than normal number, even by Downey’s standards.

On average, the city averages about 2.7 car thefts per day, which is the highest rate in the region and higher than any similar-sized city in the state, according to the FBI.

Over the last week, the average was closer to five car thefts per day.

The car thefts were reported all over the city, and the last week looks like a spike in what so far has been a better-than-usual year for stolen car reports.

As of early June, car thefts were down 20 percent compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary police statistics.

Not all reports are actual car thefts. The data, which is taken directly from police logs, doesn’t account for incorrect reports, such as impounded cars or people who forgot where they parked.