The Nicholsaville Police Department is asking the community to be on alert in the wake of a rash of auto thefts throughout the city.
"It's spread out all over the city," Officer Kevin Grimes said. "We're trying to raise the public's awareness to lock their cars, and to just be aware of it."
In the last two weeks, the NPD has received approximately 37 theft from motor vehicle reports.
According to a NPD news release, most of the thefts are occurring at night, and many of the vehicles were left unlocked.
Police say that valuables left out in the open are an invitation to would-be thieves.
"We would like to remind everyone not to leave valuables in their vehicles and especially in plain sight," Grimes said, in the news release. "It is also a safe practice to lock your vehicle when you exit it. This makes it harder for the individuals responsible for the thefts to gain access to your property. If you do have valuables that are often left in your car, it is important to record the make, model and serial number of the item. This is helpful if the items are stolen and recovered at a later time."
