HOOVER – Hoover Police Department is seeking a suspect for questioning in a felony unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle case.

The offense occurred in the parking lot of LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant off U.S. 280 on Aug. 5.

One of the stolen items included the victim’s purse.

On Aug. 8, the suspect was observed at a bank in Lithonia, Georgia, near Atlanta, attempting to negotiate the victim’s stolen checks.

HPD released surveillance images of the suspect. Anyone who recognizes this person, or knows anything about her or this case, should contact Detective James Hester at 444-7580.

If immediate assistance is needed, call Hoover 911 or the non-emergency number at 822-5300.

Anonymous tips can be left at HooverPD.com/submit-a-tip.php or through Crime Stoppers at 254-777 or CrimeStoppersMetroAL.com.

Tips submitted through Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and you could be eligible for a cash reward if your tip leads to an arrest.

Hoover Police Department also encouraged residents to “Lock-Hide-Take,” remembering to lock your vehicle doors, hide valuables in a conspicuous place (like the trunk) or take the items with you.

“These are crimes of opportunity,” an HPD Facebook post read. “Remove the opportunity that a criminal needs to break in your car. If you leave items in plain view and your vehicle unlocked, you are giving criminals an open invitation to break in. Even if your doors are locked, sometimes even that isn’t enough (but it helps!).”

HPD offered tips for making vehicles more secure:

• Lock your vehicle and set the alarm at all times—even at home (also, make sure it is locked by lifting up on the handles after setting the alarm).
• Do not leave anything on display in your car. This might be a shopping bag filled with unknown items, an empty box or even change in the cup holder. Thieves will steal first and think about value later. Take your personal property with you.
• Leave no trace or sign of electronics (docking stations, connector cables). Also, the following are particularly attractive: cell phones, GPS receivers, laptops, iPads/iPods, check books, credit/debit cards, cash/coins, private mail, wallets and purses and garage door openers (hide it in the console—this is the entry point to your house; treat it like a key).
• Keep all of your belongings with you. If not, at least put them in the trunk.
• Put exterior lighting on motion or the dusk-to-dawn setting at your residence.

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking because you live in a low crime neighborhood or you are shopping in an area where there aren’t any issues, that you can leave items in your car or leave doors unlocked,” the HPD post read. “Stay vigilant and call us if you need us.”

For more crime prevention information, visit HooverPD.com.