APD warns citizens to lock your doors, remove valuables after slew of vehicle break-ins

ALBANY, Ga. – The Albany Police Department (APD) is warning people to keep their cars clear after a series of break-ins.

CBS 44’s Brian Roche has more.

The Albany Police Department (APD) is putting the community on notice about an unsettling trend that’s growing. And, that’s with teens breaking into people’s cars.

Police Chief Persley tells us that a recent string of break-ins has seen thieves steal firearms from people’s cars.

“We had reports over the past couple of days after we made the arrests of those juveniles. There were other entering autos that occurred in other parts of the city. But, the thing that was significant is people are having weapons stolen out of vehicles. Please, sir, please, ma’am, do not leave a weapon in your vehicle,” said Chief Michael Persley, Albany Police Dept.

But… what the Albany Police Chief says is more concerning is the age that these thieves are getting into other people’s cars…

And… how there may be more who are potentially even younger.

“Those who we captured were recently, you know, as young as 12. I wouldn’t be surprised that they are younger. This is when you have children who are unsupervised…” said Chief Persley.

As we start to get into the summer months where these kinds of car break-ins become more common, Chief Persley also wants to remind the public to make sure they don’t keep their valuables in their car.

“If you leave it in there because you have children in the in the home and you don’t want them to get to it, then consider getting a gun case or something or other that they can’t get in. Leaving a weapon in the vehicle is not a is not a good idea,” said Chief Persley.

And… Chief Persley is encouraging parents if their child is one of those suspects to talk to them.

“If you need to have these conversations with these younger people in your family, it is not cool. It is not the stylish thing to do. That’s a dangerous game you’re playing,” said Chief Persley.

Brian Roche reporting. 

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