Summer has seen several four-wheelers stolen in Halifax County, not to mention dirt bikes and mopeds.

As hunting is in, the Halifax County Sheriff's Office is recommending owners to take keys out of the ignition when hunting and make sure they're properly secured.

“It’s hard enough today to afford four wheelers, dirt bikes, and even mopeds without having one taken from you and having it to replace,” Detective Obert Wiltsie said in a news release. “It seems that more and more the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office is taking theft reports of four wheelers, dirt bikes, and mopeds.” The thefts have occurred from garages, while still on the trailers, in store parking lots, in front yards, and in the back yards. The reports have been taken from different areas of the county.

Wiltsie said four or five of the vehicles have already been stolen and thieves are targeting mopeds left unattended at stores. The last reported vehicle was om September 4.

The sheriff's office is still looking for the following four-wheelers: A 2006 Yamaha model that is yellow and black four ; a blue Yamaha drag style 450cc model and a 2007 Honda camouflage four model.

With hunting season arriving and the increased use of four wheelers, the sheriff's office is trying to make people more aware of their surroundings so that they do not fall victim of these types of thefts.

The following precautions, Wiltsie said, are not guaranteed to keep someone from stealing these vehicles but will make them less of a target and harder to take:

Do not leave the key in the vehicle.

Do not leave vehicle unattended in the yard.

Do not leave vehicle running unattended.

Do not let someone you do not know take it for a ride.

If stored outside keep your vehicles locked with a chain if at all possible.

Be aware of suspicious people in your neighborhood.

If leaving home for an extended period of time have a trusted person keep an eye on your home or property.

Have serial numbers and vehicle identification numbers stored somewhere secure.

The sheriff's office encourages anyone with information not only on stolen four-wheelers but information pertaining to any crime to call the Halifax County Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444 or the sheriff's office at 252-583-8201.