ITHACA, N.Y. — Following an increase of vehicle break-in’s during the past 30 days, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department posted a reminder to the community yesterday to lock their car doors and keep valuables out of their vehicles.
Yesterday’s release stated that “the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office has recently received numerous complaints throughout the county of larcenies from vehicles.” While there has not been a particular trend connected to the break-in’s, the Sheriff’s Office stated that they generally have been happening overnight.
Lieutenant Dan Donahue said he did not have a specific number of complaints the Sheriff’s Office had received in regards to vehicle larcenies, but the number had increased in the last month. “Over the past 30 to 45 days, we’ve had…several,” he said. “Far more than we care to deal with.”
Donahue said the complaints have been spread throughout the entire county, and not isolated to one area. He said most of the larcenies have targeted neighborhoods where people leave their cars unlocked.
“If they find a particular neighborhood which seems to be fruitful, they’ll stay for awhile,” Donahue said.
Donahue said most of the complaints have not reported any damages to vehicles, but primarily involve reports of stolen valuables that people have left behind in their unlocked cars. He said most of the stolen items included electronics – things like iPads, phones, laptops and GPS’s.
There have been no arrests made yet in connection to the larcenies.
“We’re just trying to remind people to take all their valuables with them when they leave their vehicles and to lock their doors,” Donahue said.
If you observe suspicious activity in your neighborhood or experience a break-in, you are encouraged to report it to the Sheriff’s department at 607-272-2444