Several residents of the High Range and Sonoma Ranch neighborhoods woke up this morning to find a flyer hanging on their doorknob, courtesy the Las Cruces Police Department.
The flyers were left at the homes of 45 residents whose vehicles were found unlocked by officers conducting foot patrols during the early-morning hours of Tuesday, June 23.
Over the past weekend, LCPD took reports of 15 auto burglaries in the High Range and Sonoma Ranch neighborhoods. All 15 vehicles were believed to have been left unlocked by their owners.
In the past week, LCPD has seen 30 auto burglaries throughout the city.
Most of auto burglaries are deemed ‘crimes of opportunity’ since very little effort is needed to commit such a crime. It is suspected that auto burglary perpetrators simply walk neighborhoods – or parking lots – pulling door handles with the hopes of finding an unlocked vehicle.
Once in the vehicle, the perpetrator needs only seconds to rummage through the passenger compartment or pop open a trunk.
Police encourage vehicle owners to:
- Park vehicles in a garage, driveway or well-lighted area.
- Remove valuables (purses, wallets, backpacks, personal electronics, etc.) from the passenger compartment.
- Conceal other items (CDs, tools, loose change, cell phone chargers, etc.) normally kept in a vehicle.
- Close all windows and lock all doors.
- Remove garage door remote controls, or openers, from vehicles.
- Install and use an audible alarm system.
- Be a good neighbor and report any suspicious activity.
Anyone who witnesses an auto burglary in progress is asked to refrain from confronting the suspects. Instead, witnesses are asked to immediately call 911 and be prepared to provide the call-taker with an accurate description of the suspect or suspects, and license plate information of the vehicle they are in.
Information from Las Cruces Police