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Vehicle burglaries spike in Danville

July 22, 2008|BOBBIE CURD

Danville police saw thefts involving vehicles increase over the weekend and are warning the public to keep valuables out of plain sight.

All of the reports involved vehicles that were locked and perpetrators broke windows to gain entry and steal items left in view.

Friday morning, a resident on West Lexington Avenue reported a Mercedes was broken into and a leather bag was taken from inside. Police say a brick was thrown through the passenger side to gain entry after midnight Thursday.

Close to 3 p.m. Friday, a resident on Country Lane reported a Suburban was broken into and several items were reported stolen, including $75, an iPod, prescription sunglasses and a stereo/navigation system taken from the dash.

Assistant Chief Tom Bustle said the perpetrator disconnected the line to the battery to disable the vehicle's alarm. Extra patrol was requested in the area overnight.

Saturday, a caller from Danville Cinemas 8 told police at 9 p.m. that someone had broken out the back window of her silver Toyota Rav 4 and her purse was missing. She told officers that her vehicle had been parked in the last row of the lot, closest to Food Lion.

Crimes of opportunity

Bustle said the vehicle break-ins have not been concentrated in any one area, but he calls them crimes of opportunity.

"We've definitely had a higher number of break-ins lately, and it seems like they pick up when money gets tighter," Bustle said. "But most of them are occurring with cars where valuables are left out in plain sight where they can easily be seen."

Bustle said there have even been cases where individuals have left guns or cash inside their vehicles.

Bustle advises residents to report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods and not to leave valuables in plain view inside a vehicle.

"I would call it a crime of opportunity. (Thieves) are looking around for something to take, and the purse or whatever is sitting on the front seat, so they attempt it," Bustle said. "If they see it inside, where it's in plain sight and there's something around to break a window, they're going to do it."

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