Keep an eye on your unattended car, suggests Grumpy Editor.
Motor vehicle thefts rose 33.5 percent in many large U.S. cities in this year's first half from the same period last year.
Kia and Hyundai brands are at the top of the stolen list.
On the “brighter" side, homicides dropped 9.4 percent in this year's first half in 30 top cities.
Killings were down 22 percent in Los Angeles, 11 percent in New York and 7 percent in Chicago so far this year, reports The Wall Street Journal.
IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…
MORE ON TONY BENNETT. Two little-known things in the background of singer Tony Bennett, who died last week: In early days he was a copy boy for the Associated Press and at 18 years old was drafted into the Army and saw combat in Germany.
AMC ENDS HIGHER CHARGE FOR BETTER SEATS. After five months, movie theater operator AMC dumps a program that charged more for seats with better sightlines after rival chains did not follow the plan.
N.Y. SUBWAY FARES SOON TO RISE. New York Subway Fares are set to rise on Aug. 20 to $2.90 a ride, up from $2.75. MTA says the price increase will “allow us to maintain current service levels and even increase service frequency.”
HERO DOG EARNS $2,000 REWARD. A Hero Dog receives a $2,000 reward for locating an escaped prison inmate. Tucker, a chocolate Labrador mix, alerted his owners that the fugitive was hiding in the woods behind their Pennsylvania home.
NORTH KOREA FIRES MORE MISSILES. North Korea continues to be busy with missiles, firing two into the sea Saturday in what appears to be a statement of defiance as the U.S. deployed a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea fopr the first time in decades.
RETAIL SALES RISE AS INFLATION COOLS. With inflation cooling — to its slowest pace in more than two years — Americans spent more in June for the third straight month. Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted o.2 percent last month from the prior month.
