February 16, 2016 NEWS RELEASE
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a series of car break-ins that have occurred in several residential areas in Vanderburgh County. Since the beginning of February, seven (7) vehicle break-ins or vandalism have been reported to the Sheriff’s Office. Occurring mainly in the residential area south of Covert Avenue, the thefts occurred overnight. Residential areas, especially subdivisions, are frequent targets due to the high concentration of parked vehicles and the lack of traffic during the late night and early morning hours.
The Sheriff’s Office offers these tips to minimize the risk of becoming a victim of such a theft:
Unsecure firearms, medication and money should never be kept in the vehicle when not occupied.
Avoid leaving valuables inside a vehicle, but if necessary secure these items in a locked glove box or trunk.
Never leave your car unlocked, not even in your driveway.
Park in a well lit area or under a motion activated light.
If you park outside, do not store a garage door opener in your vehicle. If your vehicle is broken into, the thief now has access to your garage and house.
Many people do not report these types of thefts believing that nothing can be done. The Sheriff’s Office strongly encourages anyone who is the victim of a crime to report it. If you believe your vehicle has been entered and items taken please do not touch anything on or inside the car. If you locate items from your vehicle somewhere else such as on the ground, again refrain from touching them. Call 911 and the responding deputies can assess the possibility of recovering evidence.
Persons with information regarding the car break-ins are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (812) 421-6339 or go online to the Sheriff’s Office website at www.vanderburghsheriff.com where a tip may be left anonymously.