East Ridge police say there has been an increase in overnight auto thefts and burglaries in residential areas along North and South Terrace.
The vehicles - that have mostly been left unlocked - are being entered, and the suspects are finding keys for that vehicle or other vehicles located on the property, according to a press release from the East Ridge Police Department.
"This trend has developed over the past few weeks in both jurisdictions," wrote East Ridge Police Chief James Reed in the release. "It cannot be stressed enough that vehicles need to be locked with keys/spare keys removed when not in use."
Back in March, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported the Chattanooga Police Department had investigated 165 reports of stolen vehicles in 2017, 57 of which were left unlocked with keys inside.
Often, the reports were coming from more affluent neighborhoods where residents may feel more secure. The North Shore area, including Stuart Heights, Rivermont, Hill City and Riverview, experienced 32 of the 57 stolen vehicles that were left unlocked with keys inside.