Increase of car burglaries occurring throughout Vermilion Parish

According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon, over the last several months detectives have been working diligently to solve approximately 25 night time vehicle burglaries and thefts - 15 of them which took place during the night time hours on Tuesday.
They have been occurring just north of the La. 14 By-Pass in Abbeville from La. 82 to La. 338.
Sheriff Couvillon says that these vehicle burglaries and thefts appear to be targeting unlocked vehicles and homes for the most part and were confined to the general neighborhood areas located off La. 82, just north of McDonalds in Abbeville.
The VPSO detectives have been working these burglaries and thefts and are asking the residents to please make an extra effort in calling in suspicious vehicles and/or persons seen in these areas.
Sheriff Couvillon further stated that the common thread in these latest rash of vehicle burglaries is the fact that there has been no evidence of forced entry due to the vehicles
being left unlocked, supporting the theory that these criminal(s) are moving fast and looking mainly for unlocked vehicles grabbing small valuables and other property that is left un secured.
Items that are being taken include money, electronics and/or other small valuables that can be taken quickly and transported with ease and sold on the street easily.
“It is very disheartening and aggravating when people work very hard to earn what they have and lose it at the hands of a criminal. I can only offer these victims the re-assurance of knowing that the Sheriff’s office is working overtime to bring these criminals to justice. With the public’s eyes and ears along with our investigative persistence, these burglaries will be solved and we will bring resolve to these victims” said the Sheriff.
To ensure that you enhance your chances of not becoming a victim Sheriff Couvillon strongly urges residents to take these actions now and make it practice going forward:
1. Lock all vehicles when not in use, at all times.
2. Remove all valuables from vehicles and secure inside homes.
3. Do not leave valuables in plain view and unsecured in yards.
4. Lock your homes at all times when leaving and at all times during the night.
5. Consider installing recorded video surveillance (could be very valuable when something happens).
6. Call the Sheriff’s office on any suspicious vehicles or person in the neighborhood ALWAYS.
7. Watch each other’s homes and property closely, reporting anything suspicious.