VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Police Department is reminding drivers to either leave their valuables at home or stow them out of sight to help decrease the chances that their vehicles will be targets of would-be auto burglars.
Auto burglars are targeting vehicles parked at fitness centers and near beaches and parks because drivers tend to leave their personal belongings in their cars rather than taking those items with them, the Vero Beach Police Department said.
“The problem is exacerbated by victims leaving their gym bags, purses, wallets, etc. in plain view making their vehicle a richer target to victimize,” the police said in a prepared statement.
The department has noticed this growing trend of auto burglaries in Vero Beach since May. There have been 11 forced break-ins of vehicles, according to police.
Of those 11, five were solved with the arrest of a suspect identified as Delvin Mills on July 10. The six remain unsolved.
“The Vero Beach Police Department is asking that citizens try to leave their valuables at home and only bring with them the necessary forms of ID and/or source of funds that can be easily carried with them so that their vehicle is less likely to be broken into,” the department said in its prepared statement.
The department also asks that victims call their local law enforcement agency immediately to report a break-in. The sooner they call, the better the chances are in catching the suspects before they leave, according to police.
