ASHTABULA — Add petty theft from vehicles to the list of careers changed by digital technology.
Detective Sgt. Joseph Cellitti said he is seeing a spike in crime that correlates with Christmas and the increasing value of electronic gadgets, cell phones, MP3 music players and compact discs. Coincidentally but unfortunately, the trust of city residents also is on the rise.
A rash of thefts from vehicles throughout the weekend and Monday led to Tuesday’s warning to lock up property and vehicles. One thief smashed the back window of a sport utility vehicle while it was parked in the 6300 block of Bardmoor Boulevard on Sunday night, and broke into another vehicle down the road.
Thieves also broke into cars Sunday in the neighborhoods of Lyndon, West, Woodman and Michigan avenues, as well as Bunker Hill Road and Johnson Court. Most criminals are going into unlocked cars because it’s quicker, easier and makes less noise, police said.
“People need to lock their cars, even while parked in their own driveways,” Cellitti said. “If you see somebody out late at night, notify the police. It doesn’t help if you tell us the next day.”
With the holiday shopping season upon us, the police force is about to encounter a new wave of thefts, he said.
What normally constitutes petty theft can be expected to escalate into grand-theft larceny when thieves spot cars brimming with Christmas presents, including laptop computers, digital cameras, cell phones, iPods and Global Positioning System devices.
According to the FBI, 26 percent of all thefts occur from cars.
Here are some tips from local law-enforcement agencies to help keep the contents of your vehicle safe:
n Lock the doors;
n Don’t leave your purse in your car;
n Stash your gifts in the trunk and lock it;
n Park your car in a well-lighted spot; and
n Report suspicious people hanging around the parking lot.
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