Pocono News Section

Number of Car Break-Ins on the Rise

Number of Car Break-Ins on the Rise - Monday, January 28, 2008 at 7:22PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Monday, Jan 28, 2008 @07:22pm EST
WILKES-BARRE TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY- Broken into, rummaged through and taken. In the time it took to read that, police say some top of the line electronic devices are stolen out of cars. Police say they're carelessly left out - expensive electronics on the dash or windshield.

Wilkes-Barre Twp. Police Lt. Carl Gembitski said, “GPS’s, stereo equipment, stuff of that nature, in plain view is just enticing to somebody to come and take it.”

Wilkes-Barre Township investigators have their fair share of break-ins. Oddly, there have been more reports of stolen car parts like exhaust systems and even catalytic converters.

“Park in an area where there's high pedestrian traffic, foot traffic. Take away the opportunity. If somebody sees somebody working under a car…they may get a little hinky and call the police,” suggests Gembitski.

But officers want you to be proactive and keep that expensive gadget out of sight. A handful of cars had some pricey devices hanging out.

And then there's the group of people out here who, despite hearing about an increase in car thefts, think that if someone is going to go to the trouble of smashing a windshield then hey, they can have the electronic device.

“I'm originally from New York City, so they always break into your cars,” said Gail Wrieden.

Despite her urban smarts, Wrieden's radar detector is out in the open. “You're just so busy. You're running in between lunch and stuff and you don't think about it,” she said.

Police say you should think about it. You could spare yourself a headache, a broken windshield or even more hassle.