Auto Burglaries Hitting New Tampa

New Tampa residents might want to be more vigilant about keeping their car doors locked at night.

An email by Tampa Police to neighborhood watch leaders Tuesday warned residents about an unfortunate trend.

“In the last 2 weeks there have been 8 auto burglaries with similar MO’s in the New Tampa area,” according to a crime analysis by the Tampa Police Department. “It appears that they are occurring over the nighttime hours to unlocked vehicles and items in plain view have been removed.”

Everything from loose change and a laptop to jewelry has been taken in the incidents, according to police. Here are the reported auto burglaries:

• Nov. 3, Whistling Pine Way
• Nov. 7, Twinberry Drive
• Nov. 8, Kings Rail Way
• Sometime between Nov. 5 and Nov. 13, Richmond Place Drive
• Nov. 14, Kara Court
• Nov. 19, Bridle Club Drive

“Please help TPD get the word out there to your friends and neighbors that it may not be a good idea to have valuables left in their vehicles and remind them to lock their vehicles,” Neighborhood Affairs Liaison Lisa Timmer wrote in the email.

Residents who see or hear anything suspicious are urged to call 9-1-1 or the police non-emergency line at 813-231-6130.