DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – Car thefts are on a concerning rise throughout the City of Durham. Impound lots are filling up with stolen cars.

At Lee’s 24 Hr Towing, owner Lee Gardner said his business recovered a lot more than usual last year.

“Honestly, they’d take them and go out and do more serious crimes with them,” Gardner said. “And that was the concerning part.”

According to the newly-released fourth quarter crime report from police, this past year, Durham saw over 1,800 motor vehicle thefts compared to about 800 in 2022. That an increase of nearly 135 percent throughout Durham.

“Over 1,000 stolen vehicles, it’s a possibility those stolen vehicles could be used as part of crime within Durham County, Durham city,” Durham County Sheriff’s Office Captain Keith Webster said.

Law enforcement officials tell people not to leave anything in plain sight in an effort keep the community safe from car thefts.

“Don’t leave your vehicle running with the key fob or the keys in it,” Webster said. “If you need to run into the store real quick, cut your car off, walk in, lock your doors.”

The Durham County Sheriff’s Office reports it recovered over 250 stolen cars on its own last year. 

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And Gardner is still towing plenty.

“We are staying on last year’s pace at this time, haven’t seen it slow down,” Gardner said. “I’m not sure the reason it’s not slowing down.”

Durham’s police chief will present the quarterly crime report to members of the City Council on Thursday afternoon.