Charlotte—Charlotte Mecklenburg Police joined forces with Mint Hill police to catch a group of car burglars. They are looking for a group of five males targeting vehicles in Mint Hill and East of Charlotte. Cathey is just one of dozens of victims in a series of car thefts. Cathy says, βit was in the backseat of my car.. this piece was pulled out way like that and I think they used one of those sticks.” Believing thieves used that to break into her locked car and steal her work laptop. βIt was the most invasive and scary thing and it made me sick!” says Cathey. But Cathey wasn’t the only victim, we checked and neighbors just a few doors down, also had there car broken into that’s why police say they are on high alert. Lt. Jeremiah Blow of CMPD spoke at a joint press conference saying, βThe first thing we’re asking citizens, please lock your car and remove your valuables from the car.” In the last thirty days, residents in the town of Mint Hill have reported 21 car break-ins. Nearly 70 percent of those broken into were unlocked vehicles. Look at this surveillance video, a group of thieves entered the Ravenscroft Development where you can see the suspects go car to car trying to open doors. “If your cars are locked, the bad guys we have on video, there going to the car if its locked their bypassing and going to next vehicle,” says Lt. Blow. Barbara Johnson lives just a few blocks away in the Melrose community, where thieves broke into her neighbors unlocked car. “I can’t believe people can’t take time, I have a little button in my hand all you have to do is push the button it’s locked,” says Johnson. And with 5 stolen guns now missing, residents worry whose hands they will end up in. Police say they are also increasing patrols, and stepping up their surveillance. Neighbors we talked to said they have seen more officers in there neighborhood and hope that the suspects are caught soon.
