By:Rebecca Weltmann
After a string of vehicle break-ins, the Hillsborough Police Department is asking residents to take steps to help prevent thefts and burglaries from motor vehicles.
Lt. Bill Geary said the biggest thing residents can do is make sure they lock their doors.
"These are crimes of opportunity," Lt. Geary said. "People are looking into vehicles, they see something and check the doors, and nine times out of 10, the doors are unlocked.
"Usually, if vehicles are locked, they’ll move on to the next vehicle," he said. "Keep your car doors locked at night or whenever you’re not in the vehicle."
Related to that, residents should not leave valuables in their cars.
"Anything somebody might be able to see to someone else to get some money out of it should not be left in the car," Lt. Geary added. "Along with that, if you have exterior lights in your driveway or near you, park next to them."
At 3:46 a.m. Jan. 9 on Arlene Court, a resident reported a Hewlett Packard laptop valued at $1,500 and a green computer travel bag valued at $45 were stolen from his red Ford Taurus.
On Jan. 6, police responded to a series of car thefts. At 12:15 a.m., a Fox Chase Run resident reported his Cobra radar detector, valued at $150 missing, stolen; a resident of Shelbourne Place reported $140 missing from the middle console of a Honda minivan Jan. 6 as well.
Later that day, at approximately 2 p.m., a resident of Fairfield Lane reported a brown briefcase containing a blue laptop valued at $175 stolen from his vehicle, which was later recovered.
On Jan. 6, another resident from Shelbourne Place reported an Audiovax mobile DVD player valued at $150 stolen from a minivan. Also, stolen was approximately $5 in change from a cup holder.
Also Jan. 6, a resident of Fairfield Lane reported approximately $5 in change stolen from his Toyota minivan.
At 12:48 a.m. Jan. 2, a Hillsborough resident reported his muzzle loader rifle stolen from the backseat of his pickup truck. Police said the rifle, described as having a blue barrel with a wood stock, was kept in a box under the backseat and was valued at $300.
"Make sure all your doors are locked and for safety sake, make sure you check to make sure no one is in the car when you get in," Lt. Geary said. "Many people ignore the backseat and just hop in, so for safety sake, check first."
He added that residents should check to make sure there is no broken glass around their vehicle. If there is, they should report it to the police immediately.
Anyone with information about the above incidents should call police headquarters at 369-4323.
