Police issue advisory regarding vehicle thefts

A series of thefts over the past four weeks prompted the Mountain Home Police Department to issue an advisory urging people to keep their vehicles locked.

Since Thanksgiving, suspects have committed seven thefts in neighborhoods in the south and southwest sides of Mountain Home.

Evidence suggests the thieves were going from vehicle to vehicle in these neighborhoods searching for ones that were left unlocked, said Mountain Home Police Chief Nick Schilz. In each case, the suspects opened the doors and took easy-to-grab items, including personal electronic devices like iPods.

Police investigators believe these "crimes of opportunity" were committed between 1 and 4 a.m. with the owners discovering the thefts several hours later. The police chief warned that the criminals were also checking people's garage doors to see if they were also unlocked.

Those with any information regarding these incidents are asked to call the city police department at 587-2101. People may also submit information anonymously through the department's Silent Witness program by going online to www.mhpd.net/silentwitness.htm.