LaFAYETTE, Ga. – Police are trying to solve a theft spree that happened over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
They say someone entered nine unlocked vehicles over the three-day period and made off with the goods inside.
“Money, coats, jewelry, any kind of electronics,” Public Safety Director Tommy Freeman said.
The crimes happened in northwest and southwest parts of the city during the night, he said.
“Easy money,” Freeman said. “People don’t lock their cars up, so [the criminals] know they can just walk up there and open the door, rummage through the car, find anything of value and then take off.”
James Penland was one of the victims, though he said his truck was locked.
More than $1,200 worth of items, including a CB radio and some CDs, were stolen from his vehicle, he said.
“It was a shock to see that happen in this neighborhood,” Penland said. “Usually when lights are out around here, lights are out.”
This isn’t the first time unlocked cars have been targeted in LaFayette. In the summer of 2009, personal property was taken from 17 vehicles, police said.
“We did recover some of the property that was taken. And that property was returned to the individual,” Freeman said.
In the 2009 case, three juveniles eventually were convicted of entering autos, a felony in Georgia.
Because of the apparent method of operation, police are almost certain juveniles are behind the most recent crime spree, too.
“It has juvenile written all over it,” Assistant Public Safety Director Bengie Clift said. “It’s not like we’ve had a crew of professional thieves move in.”
Clift said the criminals were on foot, “in and out in 15 seconds” and took only unsecured items.
LaFayette police hope to get a tip from someone in the area that will help them make an arrest.
And police have a tip for the community: Keep your cars locked.
Timothy Bradfield covers Walker County. Contact him at timothyb2010@gmail.com