by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
A rash of thefts from vehicles in St. Joseph has law-enforcement personnel – once again – advising all residents to lock their vehicles.
During the wee hours of July 7, there were about a dozen thefts from unlocked vehicles parked in the following places: Pond View Lane, Cedar Court, Morningside Loop, Hill Street and 2nd Avenue SW.
The stolen items included the following: loose change and dollar bills, a wallet with a Social Security card and two debit cards (the owner later found the wallet tossed near his parked car, but an expired driver’s license was missing from it), two boxes of ammunition, a $100 bottle of cologne, an older iPod, a purse (the owner found it later in the woods behind her house, and nothing was missing from it).
All told, the thieves netted close to $40 in loose change.
All of the thefts seem to be related, and all but one of the owners admitted their vehicles had been left unlocked.
Police advise people not to keep any valuables inside their vehicles, especially valuables that can be seen through the windows. People should also be sure to lock their vehicles, including when they are inside a garage. The garage should always be locked during the overnight hours.
