PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (WDVM) — Prince George’s County police say they’ve seen a rise in people jumping into cars and stealing them. This only adds to the increasing auto thefts the county is already seeing.

From 191 cases in 2021 to 206 cases so far in just 2022. That’s how many incidents in Prince George’s County where someone jumped into a vehicle and stole it.

“So as you can see, there’s a vast difference between 2021 and 2022,” said Sergeant Lamar Robinson with the Prince George’s County Police Department.

“You can go in and leave your vehicle running, go into the store, or go to your house and next thing you know when you come back out your car is gone,” he said.

Here are what steps you can take to reduce your chances of losing your car.

“Be aware of your surroundings, lock all your doors, lock all your windows, park in well-lit areas and most importantly take the keys with you. If you’re going to park your vehicle even a for a split second to run into a house or convenience store, take your keys with you so you don’t become a victim of this crime,” said Robinson.

Police also say using anti-theft devices like a car club makes it harder for anyone to steal your car.

“Please don’t become a victim, take the extra measures and extra steps to make sure that you are safe and that your property is retained by you,” said Robinson.

And the same tips also apply to regular carjackings.

“If it looks suspicious to you then move to another area as quickly as you can, get out of the situation. If you are a victim of carjacking, don’t be a hero. Don’t try to save your car. It’s just a material item, you have insurance that can take care of it. Call us,” said Robinson.

Police are encouraging everyone to do their part to help slow down the increasing number of carjackings in the area down.