Upper Moreland Police Chief Settles For Publicity In Lock-Your-Car Effort

UPPER MORELAND, Pa. (CBS) -- The police chief in Upper Moreland is backing away from a proposal that could have meant tickets for township residents who left their cars unlocked on public streets.

Chief Thomas Nestel says there is support for the ordinance but there's also a lot of opposition, and for that reason he's putting the issue to bed for now. 
  
Nestel (in file photo at right) presented the plan to the township's Public Health and Safety Committee on Monday night, but the committee delayed moving it to the commissioners.

Nestel says there is some good to come out of all of this: he couldn't have paid for this much advertising.

"I have been trying for three years to get this word out to people, and the word is out loud and clear right now to lock your doors.  It's a good thing."

Nestel says 75 percent of recent car thefts in Upper Moreland occurred to vehicles where the doors were unlocked.

Under the proposal, police could have checked vehicles, and if it was unlocked you would first get a warning. The second time within a year would have resulted in a fine.

Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio.

 File photos