PALMER TWP., Pa. - Police are warning township residents to lock their vehicles overnight after more than 15 reports in the past week of nighttime thefts from inside vehicles.
Authorities believe the same person or people are responsible for the break-ins due to the proximity and times of the calls.
Neighborhoods in areas south of William Penn Highway along Greenwood Avenue, as well as south of Freemansburg Avenue along Grandview Drive, have been targeted, according to police.
Two other reported thefts — one of a bicycle and the other a vehicle — also are being investigated and presumed to be related, police said. Similar crimes also are under investigation in nearby Wilson Borough, police said.
On Wednesday, after police stopped a reportedly stolen vehicle at Division and Milford streets in Palmer, five people who were in the car bailed from it and ran toward Victoria Lane, according to a report. No arrests have been made.
In all, police say they have received 16 reports of thefts from inside vehicles and additional calls for unsuccessful attempts to enter locked cars.
In all of the cases, there were no signs of forced entry into cars. Police say they are urging everyone to lock their vehicles.
“These investigations are ongoing,” police said in a Crime Watch alert. “We are very appreciative to all that have assisted in obtaining neighborhood Ring and additional camera footage of these incidents.”
Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Dave Lembach at 610-253-5844 ext. 1209 or dlembach@palmerpd.org.