Over the course of a month, 20 others have been broken into, many of them unlocked and with valuables left inside them.

“It's unfortunate,” said Detective Bobby Martin of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department. “You think you could leave your doors unlocked but people take advantage of the situation, they check door handles.”

The thieves look for every opportunity and will take virtually anything — guns, money, jewelry, pocketbooks.

Throughout the night, Martin said, they search for electronics and spare change. “If someone wants to get in your house, your car, they've already figured out how. That's why we have to be aware you can no longer leave your doors unlocked and you can rarely leave children's toys out. It's just the society we live in today. We have to adapt to what's going on around us. It's just a sign of the times. There's always somebody looking to take advantage of those situations.”

Martin said it is best to take the time and remove purses, wallets and other items of value from vehicles. “I know it's hunting season and some leave guns in their trucks. They will take advantage of it. “If you see anyone walking in the middle of the night, call.”

Martin declined to speculate on whether the current vehicle break-ins are the work of one person or several different bands of thieves.