Four of them, Captain Bobby Martin of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said, were unlocked with the keys accessible, and another with a push-button ignition was left unlocked and pushed by suspects who later fled.
One theft occurred on July 12, two on July 13, one on July 14 and the other on July 15.
The July 12 reported theft occurred when the victim left their vehicle in a parking and when they came back it was gone. It was found in the Radar Circle area wrecked, Martin said.
On July 13 there was a report of suspicious individuals in the 300 block of Washington Street looking through cars.
Officers observed a vehicle with no headlights on, apparently being pushed down the roadway. They fled when the saw officers, the vehicle still moving before it crashed into a utility pole. This was the vehicle with the push-button ignition. “They were probably going to figure a way to start it,” Martin said.
A few hours later, around 7:18 a.m., a victim was getting ready for a workout at New Day Fitness. The victim left the keys on the floorboard.
Two men in another vehicle came by, one got out and saw the keys in the vehicle and stole it, Martin said. That vehicle was recovered in Florida with damage done to the right side.
On July 14, a victim who went inside Tractor Supply, leaving their keys in a center console, walked out to find their vehicle gone.
On July 15 a victim who had just put gas in the car, walked into Sheetz to make a purchase, leaving the vehicle unlocked with keys inside. The victim walked back out to find the vehicle stolen. A be on the lookout notification was dispatched and Littleton police officers stopped it and an arrest was made, Martin said.
“In each of these cases we’ve had unsecured vehicles,” Martin said. “It doesn’t take someone a long time to pull the door handle, find keys and the car is gone. We talk a lot about vehicles being unsecured. I understand it’s your property, but you have to understand the others don’t see it the way you do. They view what’s yours could be mine. If you give someone the opportunity nine out of 10 times they’re going to take the opportunity.”
The thieves, he said, aren’t particularly looking for a specific make or model — just an opportunity.
With warmer temperatures there is the temptation to keep vehicles running with the AC on. “You have to keep your doors locked. Please don’t leave the keys in the car. Don’t give anyone the opportunity to take it.”
Martin said he and Investigator Jeff Davis have been working on a program on how to make homeowners and businesses safer and anyone interested should call them at 252-533-2810.
Added to the five vehicles stolen in three days, have been reports over the last several weeks of between 15 to 20 if not more, vehicles broken into. “Most are unsecured,” Martin said, and from them weapons, electronics, cell phones and other valuable items have been taken. “People up to no good are taking the guns and ammo to do harm to the innocent.”