LEETONIA Thefts from cars prompt warning

Residents have reported thefts from nearly a dozen cars, none of them locked.
LEETONIA -- Chief John Soldano is urging residents to remove valuables and lock cars when parked in the village.
He said residents have reported thefts from nearly a dozen cars the past two weeks.
Compact disc players, cellular phones and compact discs are among the items most often snatched, Soldano said.
He said several of the thefts have been from cars in the OSI Club parking lot on Main Street.
"There's not been one single report of anyone breaking into a car," Soldano said. "They've all been unlocked."
Arrests: Although police have caught and charged a few people, the thefts continue, most often occurring between 7 and 9 p.m. Police think a majority of the thefts are being committed by juveniles.
"Certainly, if you're parking at the curb in front of your house overnight, you should lock your car," Soldano said.
"It makes sense to lock up even if you're just running into the grocery store for a few minutes. Locking you car makes even more sense now, since it appears we're being targeted."
Soldano advises motorists not to tempt thieves by leaving cellular phones and other valuables in sight.
"We have officers out there patrolling," Soldano said. "We caught one juvenile in the act."
Whether it's the family car or the front door of a home, a locked door is a good deterrent for an unskilled thief in a hurry, Soldano said.
"We're not dealing with professionals here," he said. "It's easy to go between rows of parked cars and reach in quickly. If a door is locked, they're likely to move on."