Police investigating burglaries of vehicles in city neighborhood 8/29/2014

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 29, 2014

By Rupert Howell

A Batesville Police Department patrol car sits on an empty lot overlooking the lone entrance to Westmoreland Heights neighborhood. 

Obviously that didn’t deter someone from entering a dozen or more unlocked cars throughout the upscale neighborhood in search of pocket change.

Police have been investigating at least nine thefts from parked vehicles at residences in that area of Batesville that occurred between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, according to Deputy Chief Don Province.

Police incident reports from reporting officers Lts. Ruby Meyers and Kerry Pittman as well as officer Eric Conlee indicated that little of value was taken in most cases with the exception of an iPod stolen on Morningside Lane. Someone else was missing a Mini-Maglite flashlight.

A wallet taken from one vehicle was found across the street missing the $4 in cash it previously contained. Two bank debit cards were intact.

Several residents reported mostly loose change in the console taken and Province confirmed that in one instance a handgun was bypassed to get to loose change. Another resident said after learning of the thefts, she remembered her console’s contents being dumped out.

“I just thought it was my kids,” she said, adding, “I never leave anything valuable in my car.”

The incident is somewhat similar to thefts several years ago in Green Acres Subdivision where thieves canvassed the neighborhood in the wee hours taking wallets, purses, firearms and cell phones from unlocked vehicles while owners slept.

Province revealed the department is looking for suspects, “close by,” the area of the crime.

Noting that items missing were not of great value, he termed the incident as a “wake-up call” for residents to be more vigilant with their autos and belongings.

Anyone with information or who thinks they were a victim of the recent thefts should call BPD at 563-5653.