Will new laws prevent scourge of Vermont car thefts, break-ins?

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont lawmakers are hoping to crack down on a recent spike in car thefts that authorities say is part of a statewide problem.

Car thefts are on the rise, according to the Burlington Police. There were 946 stolen vehicles last year — nearly double the rate of three years prior.

Rep. Tom Burditt, R-West Rutland, the sponsor of a bill to take aim at the scourge, on Tuesday recounted a story this fall involving a state trooper he’s friends with. He says the trooper was investigating a murder in northern Vermont when he had an incident with his personal vehicle.

“His phone pinged and someone was in his car at home. And through that, he found it it isn’t illegal for people to get into your car,” Buditt said.

Police in Chittenden and Addison Counties last fall investigated a rash of car break-ins and thefts in Burlington of Kias. It’s a problem that authorities say has gotten worse since the pandemic and is often related to drug use.

Under current Vermont law, if someone enters your car but doesn’t steal it, it’s not illegal.

“In a state such as Vermont, when you don’t have your car, you are in trouble. It impacts people getting to work, medical appointments, childcare,” said Jennifer Pullman with the Vermont Center for Victims Services.

It’s illegal to steal a car in Vermont but there is no language directly involving “grand theft auto,” and some say the penalties need to be stiffer. A package of three bills — H. 563, H. 558, and H.564 — are under consideration by the House Judiciary Committee and would tighten up laws around entering and stealing cars. and attempted vehicle theft.

“If somebody gets in your car and hasn’t stolen it yet, is it a crime?” asked Rep. Burditt. One proposal puts penalties on someone, who they say consciously ignores the fact they did not have consent from the owner when they entered or used the car.

But legal experts say the question is murky, especially if domestic partners are disagreeing over ownership of a car. And as of now, there is no legal definition of “consciously ignoring” “This bill creates something that isn’t in our criminal code and that’s an unstable place to be,” said Rebecca Turner with the Office of the Defender General.

Sponsors of the bills — which will likely be combined — acknowledge that having stiffer penalties won’t prevent all car break-ins but they say it’s a starting point. Ultimately, police say it’s also up to car owners to take simple steps to prevent theft, including locking doors, removing valuables, and not keeping the keys in the car.