Five people Tuesday morning found someone else had been in their vehicles.
According to reports from the Kinston Department of Public Safety, there were five larcenies from automobiles on or about Tuesday morning.
KDPS Director Bill Johnson said officers are aware of the criminal pattern and looking into it.
“We have suspects in mind, and we are working to solve those particular events,” Johnson said. “Of course, I can’t give you the details of what we’re doing, as far as our strategy on what we’re doing. But, just like (vehicle break-ins) before, we are actively working to solve those incidents.”
Residents discovered the crimes Tuesday between 6:30 and 11:44 a.m.
On the 2100 block of Sparre Drive at 6:30 a.m., a man told police someone entered his unlocked 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche and stole a camera valued at $1,500, a GPS unit valued at $200, $30 in cash, money and debit cards and other items.
Two minutes later on the 2300 block of Riley Road, a man found that someone entered his unlocked 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe and stole two BB guns, one valued at $70 and another valued at $45.
A man on the 1600 block of Sabra Drive at 6:50 a.m. noticed someone stole from within his 2010 Volkswagon Jetta, and a woman on the 2200 block of Grady Street saw someone entered her 2008 Toyota Camry, both of which were unlocked. Neither incident report states what was stolen.
At 11:44 a.m. in the 1200 block of Ruffin Terrace, a man noticed someone went inside his 2003 Toyota Camry and removed $3.
KDPS spokesman Woody Spencer said as of Wednesday, there were 10 incidents of vehicle breaking-and-entering, and nine of those involved unlocked automobiles.
“The vast majority of these, people are just going by and checking the car doors, and if they’re open, they’re going in and seeing what they can take,” Spencer said.
He added, “People just need to know that they need to lock their car doors.”
Another rash of vehicle burglaries in the city occurred in April.
“It appears we were successful last time, because they stopped,” Johnson said. “So, we were successful the last time and hopefully through employing some of the same tactics, we’ll be successful this time.”
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.