TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – The Tuscaloosa Police Department is working to solve several car break-ins at an apartment complex close to Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Officers said they have more than 100 of these cases since January.
According to records, there’ve been more than 150 reports of vehicle break-ins since January 1 in the city of Tuscaloosa.
Police reports indicate the most recent vehicle break-ins occurred in the parking garage of HERE Tuscaloosa, a student housing complex near The Strip.
Captain Michael Baygents says they’re noticing a pattern with the break-ins across Tuscaloosa – too many drivers are simply leaving their vehicles unlocked.
“I don’t know why people leave stuff unlocked, maybe just not thinking or, I really don’t know. If they would lock their doors, that would considerably lower our auto burglaries,” said Capt. Baygents.
By how much? Consider this. Police say 90% of the vehicles that’ve been burglarized were left unlocked. In other words, it’s rare that thieves are bashing in windows. When a vehicle is left unlocked, it takes a thief at most around 15 seconds or less to find whatever it is they’re looking for, according to Baygents.
“It can be a mixture of things. A lot of it has to do with what they can pawn, sell on the streets,” said Baygents.
Baygents says they’ve made a few arrests, the suspects being juveniles and adults.
“We’ve made numerous arrests between adults and juvenile offenders. We’ll catch a group from time to time and will be able to tie them to 10 or 15 over here, a few over there. We do solve them, but it takes time,” said Baygents.
The captain says the majority of these car burglaries are happening at apartment complexes. In other cases, police have found groups walking neighborhoods in the middle of the night.
“We have surveillance videos all over the city. What happens is we’ll see a group where they are literally walking side-by-side pulling over door handles and if it’s locked they keep going and if they’re unlocked, they’re in and out,” Baygents said.
It comes down this – think ahead. “If you have anything of value, don’t leave it in the car and lock your doors,” said Baygents.
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