Maurice chief urges citizens to be aware of car burglaries

MAURICE — Car burglaries cannot be completely prevented.
However, Village of Maurice Police Chief Warren Rost is asking residents to help make it more difficult for those who break into cars.
“We’ve had a recent rash of car burglaries,” Rost said. “Every single car that was broken into was unlocked.
“We are asking people to be vigilant.”
The burglaries all occurred late in the night and into the early morning hours.
“We had one home security camera capture an image of one of the suspects,” Rost said. “That was at 1:30 in the morning.”
Still, Rost is asking residents who do see something to contact the police department.
“If you see anything going on,” Rost said, “give us a call. We have someone on patrol 24 hours a day.”
No major items were taken from the vehicles.
“The burglars seemed to be looking for stuff they could get rid of quickly and easily,” Rost said. “One of the vehicles had a laptop sitting on the seat and they did not touch it. It’s more difficult to sell computers because of tracking. Another car had some change taken out, small things like that.”
A firearm was taken from one vehicle.
“We did find that one on the ground not far from the house,” Rost said.
The burglaries have slowed down recently.
“We have been pretty quick during the last week,” Rost said.
That lull will not give the police department as false sense of being. Rost reiterated his point that citizens should help limit options for potential burglars.
“We are going to be out there patrolling,” Rost said. “The most important thing you can do is to lock your vehicle. Every vehicle that was broken into was unlocked.
“They (burglars) are going around checking doors.”