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State police in Greene County investigating rash of car break-ins

2 min read

WAYNESBURG – State police are warning people in Greene County to lock their cars after a rash of break-ins and thefts from numerous vehicles over the past month.

The majority of the thefts have occurred in Franklin Township, state police Sgt. Steven Dowlin said, with nine happening there in July and two more in just the first week this month.

“There’s definitely a rise (in thefts) happening right now,” Dowlin said.

The thefts have centered around the Deerfield Lane and Crago Avenue neighborhood, he said, along with multiple incidents occurring in the Walmart parking lot. Most of the stolen items include cell phones, loose change, electronics and jewelry left in plain sight inside the cars.

Dowlin said many of the thefts might have been avoided if people had locked their car doors, removed valuables from the vehicles or hid them from view.

“We encourage the public to lock their vehicles and remove any items of value, or at least conceal them,” he said.

Police are also investigating five other thefts from vehicles in various communities across the county in July, along with two in Center Township this month, Dowlin said.

He said investigators think the thefts, especially the ones in Franklin Township, might be connected.

“With the fact that there are nine (thefts) in one township, we start looking at crime trends and focus our efforts to specific areas,” Dowlin said. “It’s possible there is one group of people or one individual, so we try to target the area to reduce crime in those communities.”

Anyone with information on the recent thefts is asked to contact state police at the Waynesburg barracks at 724-627-6151.

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