Cops Look Into Car Break-ins

Columbia police are investigating up to 20 vehicles broken into early Monday morning. ABC 17 News found at least six streets where a car window was busted out. Police say the thieves targeted electronics and money.No one in the area reported hearing any of the crimes. Cops tell ABC 17 News it was the perfect night to do it because the rain covered up the sound of the glass breaking.Streets were filled with plastic-covered windows and broken glass on the ground. Victims say they were shocked when they heard it wasn’t just them.”I noticed a half-a-dozen cars on my block had it vandalized,” Mitch Hughey said. “The passenger window was knocked out, and the contents of the car had been shuffled around, searched through the glove box.”Hughey says he first noticed his car’s window broken when he was getting ready for work Monday morning. He called police and learned more than a dozen were broken into on his street and the surrounding area. Neighbors say people in this neighborhood are tight knit and usually cars are not messed with. That’s what some believe is most surprising.”Our house got broken into last year, so the neighborhood seems nice,” Cody Garnett said. “I don’t know why we keep getting stolen from, but we have to just take precautions.”Police say in cases like this, the suspects are usually after easy to grab items like electronics, cash or credit cards. Several victims say their iPods were taken. One even says there was a spool of cable in his car stolen, which is worth about $300.”I usually always try to lock my doors and this kind of this is almost unpreparable for,” Hughey said.Several residents say they’re going to be taking extra precautions, but they say they’re just trying to stay positive during a frustrating time.