By AMANDA KIMBLE
TheFlashToday.com
STEPHENVILLE (October 6, 2016) – The month of October has already been a busy month for thieves. Law enforcement officials working within Stephenville city limits say more than two dozen motor vehicles have been targeted.
Stephenville Police Department received four reports of burglary of a motor vehicle Thursday morning. Sgt. Sha King said the reports were made on incidents in the 100 block of Ben Hogan Drive, 900 block of Meadowlark Lane, 700 block of Mockingbird Lane and 1000 block of Chamberlain Street.
While Sgt. King would not provide specific details on the incidents citing ongoing and open investigations, photos posted the “Erath County BREAKING NEWS” Facebook page Thursday morning allegedly showed two or three individuals in a small car pulling into the driveway of the Ben Hogan residence and entering the property owner’s vehicle. The photos were obtained from a surveillance system installed outside of the victim’s home.
Police have not yet shared information as to what was taken from the vehicles or the value of the stolen items. The possibility of the four Thursday morning burglaries being related has also not been addressed.
The Thursday morning thefts were not the first reported to city police this month as Sgt. King said referenced three other motor vehicle burglaries, one each on October 2, 4 and 5. The earlier reports are from incidents on Belknap, Lydia and Spicewood streets.
In, all the seven reports included the burglary of 21 motor vehicles, Sgt. King said.
Items taken include wallets, sunglasses, firearms, money and coolers.
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Meanwhile, Tarleton Police Department has received similar reports, with several thefts reported on the evening of Saturday, October 1.
University police Chief Matt Welch said on-campus thieves targeted automobiles in the parking lot at Memorial Stadium. The Texans had a home game October 1, and the parking lot was packed with game attendees, tailgaters and some football fans that opted to stay through the night.
“Most of the items stolen were expensive coolers, like the Yeti brand,” Chief Welch said. “They were left unsecured and in plain sight. One of the victims stayed overnight in the tailgate area and had two coolers, but only one of them was taken.”
A firearm was also reportedly taken from one of the vehicles parked near the football stadium.
Welch said an investigation is ongoing and sent out a warning to Texan fans.
“We have another tailgate party coming up this weekend, and I would suggest that fans secure their property,” Welch said. “You can purchase an inexpensive cable lock to secure your cooler and reduce crimes of opportunity. People can also mark their valuables for identification purposes by using a brand or etching tool.”
Sgt. King agreed, saying all motorists should be aware all the time.
“We suggest that all items of value are always taken out of vehicles or removed from plain sight,” he said. “It also helps if motorists keep their doors locked.”
Everything from text books, backpacks and car chargers to pocket change, purses, firearms and laptops should be removed from the car or locked in the trunk if necessary.
Sgt. King also said it’s a good idea for property owners to keep an inventory of descriptions of – and serial numbers for – all of their valuables. He said property owners can store a hard copy of the inventory log in a safe place. They can also visit the Stephenville Police Department website, and click the link to “Report It,” a secure and free online inventory and tracking system.
Identifying information can later be used by police to return the valuables if they are located.
Meanwhile, Sgt. King urged citizens who witness burglaries in progress to contact the police department and asked individuals with information on suspected thieves or stolen property to call Erath County Crime Stoppers at 254-965-CASH (2274) or submit a report online.
Tips that lead to an arrest or the recovery of stolen property could lead to a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters will not be asked their name and will remain anonymous.
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