Love Bites: Wyoming Car Thefts Often Committed By Family Or Exes

While we often assume that car thieves are strangers, in Wyoming it's almost an even chance that it was taken by a relative, a partner or an ex.

That's according to a study by the insurance website Compare The Market..

Car Thefts In Wyoming: It's Not Always Shady People From Out Of Town

The study found that nationally, about a third of cars are stolen by someone the car owner knows well, be it partners, ex-partners or relatives, But in Wyoming the odds are almost dead even, according to the survey. 52 percent of car thefts are committed by strangers, with 48 percent of them being stolen by a relative, partner or ex-partner.

Here's how that 48 percent breaks down:

• Partners: 6%
• Ex-partners: 7%
• Family: 35%

It could be worse. In Louisiana, for example, 81 percent of cars are stolen by partners, exes or families, with the remaining 19 percent taken by strangers.

So how do you protect your car from being stolen? Most of the things you can do are simple and common sense. Obviously, if you have a garage that makes stealing a car a lot harder. Most criminals are not going to go to the trouble of breaking into a garage, let alone getting the vehicle out of the garage and down the street without being noticed.

But not everyone has a garage, and there are still things you can do. Something as simple as locking your car and parking in a lighted area helps. Anti-theft technology like steering wheel locks and alarm systems can help.

And big one in Wyoming? Don't leave your car running unattended. In cold weather in particular, it can be tempting to leave your car running while it warms up. But not only is that technically illegal in Cheyenne and many other communities, it's also an open invitation for a thief to drive off with your vehicle.