REPUBLIC, Mo. (KY3) — The Republic Police Department reminds drivers to lock their doors. The warning comes after a string of thirty car break-ins.

Investigators say a dozen of those 30 vehicles had items stolen. Investigators say reports came in on Tuesday after crooks hit cars on the southeast side of town. Police are asking whether anyone knows the owner of a dark red SUV scene in the area. Investigators believe it’s tied to the break-ins.

“I felt violated and scared for our community,” said Tessa Hall, a victim of car break-ins. “My husband saw on our neighborhood Facebook page that there had been some car break-ins, and we saw that my glovebox and my console were wide open with things everywhere.”

Investigators say reports came in on Tuesday after crooks hit cars on the southeast side of town.

Hall says her neighbor down the street claims he had a firearm stolen from his vehicle.

”From what the police say is that they were targeting looking for firearms, looking for cash, credit cards and those sorts of things,” said Hall. “Luckily, I had my purse and all of my valuables inside of my house.”

Some victims have Ring doorbell videos of who they believe are the culprits. One viewer sent us a video of two people opening a car door and rummaging through the center console around the same time as the other crimes.

“We do have some pictures of the subjects, and we’re still getting those worked on before we release them,” said Major Jamie Burks of the Republic Police Department. “We do have some suspects that we just are still needing to identify.”

Major Burks says this should remind you to lock your vehicle.

”Make sure to park it in a well-lit area and to bring all your valuables inside,” said Burks.

If you know anything about these break-ins, call the Republic Police Department.

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