The theft of handguns from vehicles continues to be a popular item for thieves. Two handguns were recently stolen from two vehicles in Fayetteville, with one of those at a residence and the other at a downtown restaurant.
Fayetteville Police Department spokesman Jeff Harris said the victim in one case told officers on Oct. 15 he had parked his truck behind the Twisted Taco restaurant downtown and had left it overnight after taking an Uber to go home. The owner added that he left the truck locked and secured.
Arriving the next morning to get the truck, the owner said a Ruger handgun and work documents left on the passenger seat were missing, said Harris.
Harris noted that there were no signs of forced entry.
A second entering auto in Fayetteville was reported on Oct. 14 at a residence on Hambrick Park off Lester Road.
The victim told the officer that the vehicle had been checked at 10 p.m. on Oct. 9, but was found to have been entered when checked at 8 a.m. on Oct. 10.
Harris said a rear window had been shattered and a bag containing $3,530 in items stolen. Those items included a Glock handgun, an Apple computer, earbuds and a Volkswagen key fob. A subwoofer was also among the items stolen.
Two more entering auto incidents occurred in Peachtree City.
In the first incident, an officer on Oct. 15 at approximately 6:15 p.m. responded to the Line Creek Nature Area off Ga. Highway 54 West.
The officer found the victim with her vehicle that had the front passenger-side window broken out. The victim indicated that her purse had been taken but nothing else that she was aware of, according to the police report.
In the second case, an officer on Oct. 15 at approximately 7:21 p.m. was dispatched to the Arbor Terrace facility on Crosstown Drive in reference to an entering auto incident.
The officer met with the complainant/victim who advised that the back window of the car had been broken out and a bag was removed from the vehicle. The bag contained miscellaneous items and an Apple watch, the police report said.
Having lived intown(Atlanta that is) smash and grab is easy. Parking on the street in front of the house my wife and I would leave the car unlocked just to prevent the smash. Sometimes the criminal is not even smart enough to know there is nothing in the car to steal. They enter the vehicle pull everything out of the glove box and leave behind change and pills falling out of their pockets. It’s a full time job being a criminal, on the lookout 24X7, just to make minimum wage.
I doubt criminals read the Citizen much, but food for thought. Maybe I’ll park at Line Creek sometime in the near future and leave my briefcase on the seat. Then I will quietly ease up into the woods overlooking the parking lot with my compound bow and “see what happens”?
A sting operation by the locals may be in order…bait the trap so to say.
Making the area only accessible via golf cart might would help….just spit balling here.
Parked multiple vehicles there over the years and never had a problem. Never had an issue on any trails either.
Don’t leave visible objects in your vehicle. Yes, you “should” be able to. Here in reality, “no” you can’t. Don’t leave your purse, backpack, fanny pack, pharmacy pack, or cracker jack in the damn car.
Common sense rules the roost.
I agree with all of that…
I agree!! I’m not leaving a piece of gum in my car. But yes put a trap out for the thieves. I know hate is a strong word but I HATE a thief. I’ve been a victim twice stealing my bank card information. Life without parole!!!!
Line Creek nature area used to be a great place to take the kids, great trails and safe. It’s now just a place to go to have your vehicle broken into. Only a matter of time before things escalate to more serious violent crimes. Something must be done to ensure our safety – I would love to take my grandkids, but it hasn’t been safe for for many years now. PLEASE fix this or close it down.