From STAFF REPORTS

NORTH SHELBY – After a recent increase in vehicle break-ins in north Shelby County, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has asked all drivers to remove valuables from their cars at night and lock car doors of all unattended vehicles to help prevent theft and other crimes.

The suggestion was prompted by a series of 15 vehicle break-ins along the U.S. 280 corridor occurring between 10 p.m. Sept. 18 and 6 a.m. Sept. 19, according to a sheriff’s office press release. The recent string of break-ins also comes after a “marked increase” in reported cases this summer, with 42 vehicle break-ins reported last month, 80 reported in the last three months and 151 reported since the beginning of the year, the press release said.

In almost every case, the vehicle was left unlocked.

The most common items stolen were cell phones, guns, laptops, checkbooks, GPS devices, credit cards, jewelry and cash, according to the press release, with most incidents occurring in high density neighborhoods, apartment complexes, shopping mall parking lots, daycare drop-off areas and fitness facilities.

The sheriff’s office requests that citizens remove valuables from their cars and lock the doors of unattended vehicles to prevent theft, which often leads to other crimes including fraudulent credit card use, armed robbery and identity theft depending on the items stolen.

For more crime prevention tips, visit Shelbyso.com.