Police Respond to Burglaries in Interlachen Neighborhood

are investigating burglaries of vehicles and garages that happened Wednesday night in the Interlachen neighborhood.

Thieves went through garages at three homes—one on Oakwood Road, one on Ashley Road and one on Boyce Street, Police Sgt. Michael Glassberg said. At least two of the garages were attached garages.

The thieves also broke into multiple vehicles during the spree.

Because the investigation is ongoing, Glassberg declined to specify the exact items that were stolen, saying only that the thieves took electronics.

He urged residents to lock their garages and remove valuables from their vehicles, even when the vehicles are parked in a garage.

Below are for deterring so-called “car prowlers.”

***

# 1: Take valuables out of your car.

Glassberg said this the most important action that residents can take to prevent break-ins. Most vehicle thefts are crimes of opportunity, he said. Thieves see a pricy electronic gadget—or a cord that suggests one might be there—and decide to get into the car. If they don’t see anything, they’ll often move on to the next car. And don’t try to throw thieves off by hiding your valuables: “You never know if people are watching or maybe they watched you another day,” Glassberg said.

#2: Don't lock valuables in your trunk after you've reached your destination.

Criminals are often on the lookout at both inside and outside parking areas for people stashing expensive items out of sight. 

#3: Stay on the lookout for suspicious activity.

Being observant helps police prevent thefts. Don’t be shy about reporting any activity that you think is off.

#4: Think carefully about locking your car.

Glassberg said he, personally, is always careful to lock his car. But he added that it can be worthwhile to leave a vehicle unlocked in order to prevent damage that occurs during break-ins. After all, thieves will sometimes break into a vehicle even if they don’t see anything valuable. That being said, be certain that you don’t leave anything of value in the vehicle. This doesn’t just mean property that thieves might want. It also means documents with personal information that could be used for identity theft.

#5: Park in heavily trafficked areas.

Thieves are wary of areas where people are most likely to see them breaking into vehicles. Look for the areas with the most eyes, and avoid places that are hidden away from public view. Underground parking garages, where the most-recent thefts took place, are particularly bad because there hidden from both sight and sound. Even secure garages can shelter thieves, who may follow residents inside the garage. “Underground garages are havens for car prowlers,” Glassberg said.

Stay up to date on all your local news. Sign up for the free Hopkins Patch newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Editor James Warden's Pinterest boards. Do you own a local business? to learn about five easy ways your business can use Patch.