3 men allegedly responsible for at least 45 car burglaries in last 2 months arrested

Arthur Donahue, 26; Steven Anderson, 35; and George Condra, 25 were each arrested on a slew of charges ranging from theft to carjacking on Sept. 15.
Arthur Donahue, 26; Steven Anderson, 35; and George Condra, 25 were each arrested on a slew of charges ranging from theft to carjacking on Sept. 15.

Auto burglary prevention tips

› Remove valuables. If that’s not an option put them in the trunk of the car› Close windows and lock doors› Do not leave keys in vehicle› Do not leave garage door opener in plain view› Park in well-lit areas, if possible› Park where your car will be often and easily viewed (natural surveillance)› Park in your garage if you have one and be sure to lock garage doors› Use a car alarm› Remove “pull-out” style radio faceplates› Report suspicious people or vehicles in your neighborhood to police› Always remember if you see something, say somethingSource: CPD

Police have arrested three men they believe are responsible for at least 45 car burglaries in Chattanooga during the last two months.

Arthur Donahue, 26; George Condra, 25; and Steven Anderson, 35, were each arrested on a slew of charges ranging from theft to carjacking on Sept. 15.

Investigators believe Donahue and Condra worked together to burglarize cars in Hixson, Tiftonia, East Brainerd, North Georgia and downtown Chattanooga. Anderson apparently worked alone.

Police said the men stole credit cards and later used those credit cards at stores and ATMs, which allowed investigators to pull photos and video of the men and tie them to the crimes.

Condra and Donahue were also charged with aggravated robbery.

Typically, car thieves focus on purses, wallets, cellphones, guns and electronics, Sgt. Rebecca Crites said. The best way for a driver to protect such items is to avoid leaving them in the vehicle, she said, especially if the items can be seen from outside the car.

"If [thieves] can see those items, that is telling them, 'Please, come take my stuff,'" she said.

If a driver must leave valuables in a car, it's best to put them out of sight in the trunk, police said. They also recommend locking car doors, hiding any garage door openers, parking in well-lit areas and parking within view of surveillance cameras.

Crites added that community cooperation helped police identify the men from the surveillance photos and urged citizens to continue to report burglaries and suspicious people.

"Without the help of the community, most of these would be unsolved," she said.

Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas. Follow @ShellyBradbury.

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