This marks at least the third incident in Leland over the past year where cars have been broken into, targetted solely because their owners left them unlocked and items plainly visible inside.
"We have posted warnings and used all the resources we can possibly think of to alert the public to lock their car doors and remove items such as computers, cellphones and cash so they will not be a target of these types of crimes", said Lt Charles Bost who is in charge of the Crime Prevention Unit. "I'm sure most people have taken the proper measures to ensure they are not victims of these types of crimes by locking their car doors and removing their valuables. However, when we receive these reports and, especially, several of them at once, its clear we have not convinced everyone."
On Thursday night, houses in Snee Farm and Stoney Creek were rummaged through. As of twelve noon on Friday, the Brunswick County Sheriff's Department, who has jurisidiciton of part of the two housing areas not incorporated in Leland, had taken reports of five car B&E's and one stolen vehicle. Leland was investigating two motor vehicle break-ins and one stolen vehicle.
"We realize that we are not the only community that has this problem but it sometimes feels like an exercise in futility. We have advised Neighborhood Watch Programs and HOA's about reminding their residents to lock their car doors and remove items from them but we still get reports like the ones we are working on now," said Lt Bost. "The only way these types of crimes can be reduced or elminated is if the community works with the police in making their vehicles and homes less accessible to criminals."
