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Rash of Car Burglaries Strike Bay County
11/05/09 - 05:32 PM
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A parked car baits burglars.

“So many of us leave so many valuable things in our car,” said stolen car victim, State Attorney Glenn Hess.

From lure of a GPS to the temptation of an IPOD, Bay County residents ring in a season for stealing. In the past month, nearly 70 cars have been broken into.

“We’ve had a rash of car burglaries,” said BSCO investigator, Kathi Bowker.

The hot spots range from the West End of the beach on over to Callaway, but it can happen anywhere. At work, play, or home there’s potential for a theft.

“I live over there in sleepy hollow, it’s one of those places that crime never happens, but yet it did,” said Hess.

“This can happen to anybody,” said Bowker.

The key to car theft safety is to keep stuff out of sight. But, just because you hide it, doesn’t mean that a criminal doesn’t know it’s there. For example, if you take down your GPS, but you leave the holder, it leaves a clue for the criminal to come in and search your car.

“Individuals are walking by and checking handles. If it’s unlocked they go in, if it doesn’t, they go to the next car,” said Bowker.

As easy as it is to steal, the Sheriff’s Office works hard to recover belongings.

“We take measures to try to get that property back to those people,” said Bowker.

So if you choose leave your things alone remember that they’re at risk.

To find out more you can check out Facebook. Last week the Sheriff’s Office set up a page to keep people informed. It’s got mugshots, investigators and general facts about their work.