Thefts Surge In Southern Kent County: Police Urge Action

As the temperatures go up, so do reports of thefts around the Grand Rapids area.

If your neighborhood Facebook group has been buzzing with break-in chatter lately—you're not alone. In Alger Heights, I’ve seen multiple posts about cars being broken into, and it turns out the problem stretches well beyond my neighborhood.

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The Kent County Sheriff's Office is warning about a spike in vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles, and construction site break-ins—especially in the southern parts of the county, including Byron, Caledonia, and Gaines Townships.

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Their advice? A little prevention can go a long way:

• Lock your vehicle, even if it’s just sitting in your driveway.
• Don’t leave wallets, purses, electronics, or tools in your car.
• Never leave keys or fobs inside.
• Close and lock garages—even during the day.
• Keep your outdoor lights on at night.
• If you’ve got a doorbell cam or home security system, use it.
• For construction sites: lock up trailers and tools, or take equipment off-site overnight.

And if you see something sketchy—say something. Call 911 if it’s urgent, or the non-emergency line at 616-632-6100. The Sheriff’s Office says they’d rather check out something minor than miss a chance to stop a crime in progress.

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If you have information about recent thefts, you can also leave an anonymous tip with Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or online.

Stay alert—and keep those cars locked!