"We're getting a lot of reports of theft from vehicles," he said. "We've taken a number of complaints, but a lot of people aren't making official complaints. If they don't find anything missing they don't think is worth reporting (and) they don't even report it."
He noted, however, everything is worth reporting because it may help the RNC with their investigation.
Fitzgerald explained that just in the past two weeks they received 15 complaints. He estimates at least 50 or 60 people have called about the problem, but have not made a formal report.
"Every year we usually get a rash, especially this time of year," said Const. Fitzgerald. "The weather's really warm. People are on the go all hours of the night."
"We had a vehicle that lost its satellite radio, another vehicle lost a GPS system," he noted.
Theives are also stealing items like CDs and money.
The police office said while robbers are not getting away with huge sums of money from one theft, but if they hit several automobiles, the cash grab could be high; not to mention the cash they get if they sell a stolen GPS system or satellite radio.
"We also had two vehicles stolen one night," he added. "People were checking through vehicles and found keys in them. They took them for a joy ride and both vehicles ended up damaged."
In those cases, the thieves returned the autos to the same street they were stolen from.
"We don't know how old the people are that are at this," he said. "In the past, the people we've apprehended for it have been older teenagers or young adults.
"We haven't apprehended anyone yet, but we think it's the same people each time," he added. "It's probably one or to persons out doing the same thing."
He said that's why the RNC needs the public's help. They need people to report the crimes to give police a better chance to catch the perpetrators.
"It's been a fairly safe community for so long and people tend to feel secure; that's why they leave their vehicles unlocked and a lot of people leave their doors unlocked to their homes," noted Fitzgerald. "We're recommending that you lock up your home, your vehicles, your sheds, garages, anything like that. Don't give people the opportunity to commit these crimes."
He added that these types of crimes are committed very quickly. So the police need to public to report to them if they witness something suspicious.
Fitzgerald added that the RNC will step up patrols in the area, in an effort to catch the thieves, and deter more theft.
Meanwhile, he said, the public can play a role in deterring break-ins and theft.
"The main message we want to get out is for people to lock their vehicles and not to leave anything in plain view."
