While Fayette County residents do not have to contend with the volume of vehicle break-ins like those experienced in places like the San Francisco Bay area, those incidents here do occur frequently.
One such case occurred in Fayetteville on Dec. 14. Police were called to the Lowe’s store on Ga. Highway 85 North at approximately 2 p.m. about an alleged entering auto incident.
Fayetteville Police Department spokesperson Ann Marie Burdett said an employee told officers they had arrived earlier in the day, had parked the vehicle and left it in good condition.
“The complainant told police they exited the store at noon, went to their car, and noticed the right front driver side window had been tampered with, causing it to crack,” Burdett said. “The complainant told police it appeared as if someone was trying to break into their car.”
It was not known if anything had been stolen.
In another case, officers on Dec. 12 arrived at a Lafayette Avenue residence on an entering auto call.
“Police met with the complainant, who said they left their residence in another vehicle for the evening. When they returned, they observed their vehicle’s rear quarter glass was shattered and pushed in, and it appeared their vehicle had been entered,” said Burdett.
Burdett said the complainant told police the doors to the vehicle were previously locked, but were found unlocked, and the glove box was left open. The complainant said no items were missing.
The above are two examples of local entering auto cases. And while individual situations vary, police always remind motorists to never leave items of value in plain sight and to never leave a vehicle unlocked. This advice will not prevent every instance of damage to vehicles, but it will help deter thefts and the damage that is sometimes caused to a vehicle during the commission of this type of crime.
As for the San Francisco Bay area in California noted above, numerous recent news reports explained that some residents, in response to the volume of vehicle break-ins, have resorted to leaving their windows rolled down and their trunks standing open, including in shopping areas, so that criminals can inspect their vehicles rather than busting windows to gain entry.
