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Liberty chief offers tips to avoid being the next victim of car break-in
By SAMANTHA PHILLIPS
LIBERTY
Liberty car break-in
Video
Liberty Police are advising residents to avoid being a victim of robberies after a string of break-ins over the weekend. The video shows a suspect trying to break into a car on Stanton street the night of other car break-ins in Liberty.
Police Chief Richard Tisone has advice for residents to avoid being victims of robbery after a string of car break-ins over the weekend.
During the holiday season, robbers may be searching for Christmas packages in cars, so Tisone said residents should remove packages from their cars at night, or at least keep them out of sight. This advice goes for all valuables.
“A lot of incidents we are seeing are crimes of opportunity. A lot of times, [thieves] see if the doors are unlocked and try to find something,” he said.
Tisone also said people should park their vehicles in a well-lit area and place a motion-detecting light nearby. Locking car doors is necessary, but a surprising number of people still keep doors unlocked, he said.
A stolen vehicle was reported on Academy Street the day of the car break-ins Saturday. Tisone said the incident was related to the car break-ins.
Stolen vehicles are a rarity in the township, Tisone said. Robbers often dump a car somewhere once they are finished with it, he added.
There were two break-ins on Ravine Drive and one on Virginia Trail after 11 p.m. Friday, according to police reports.
In the 1000 block of Ravine, a purse containing several credit cards and $20 was stolen. In the 800 block, a purse, credit card, $30, an iPad and a watch were stolen.
In the 1000 block of Virginia Trail, a gift card and gym bag were taken. All break-ins reported having the passenger window smashed in.
A stolen vehicle was reported at a hotel on Belmont Avenue on Monday, and the caller said it happened Sunday after he arrived at 10:55 p.m. The caller told police he left his keys on the front seat of the vehicle.
No suspects have been charged in these incidents.
The police department posted surveillance footage on its Facebook page of a suspect who attempted to break into a car on Stanton Street the night of the reported break-ins. Call the Liberty police tip line at 330-539-9830 with any information.