New Palestine, IN - In the overnight hours of August 17th, 15 vehicles were broken into in a neighborhood just outside of New Palestine. Several of the vehicles were left unlocked, and although victims saw signs of the break-in, often times nothing was taken. Other vehicles had a window broken out to gain access to the interior of the vehicle.
While some vehicles contained electronics that were in view, these items were left untouched with money and loose change that were left in the vehicle being the only items stolen. In two of the vehicles a wallet was taken, one of those wallets was recovered nearby with only the cash missing.
An unmarked Indiana State Police pick-up truck was also broken into during this crime spree. The truck was locked, however the suspect(s) broke out the driver's side window to gain entry. The only things taken from the truck was a personally owned Glock .40 caliber handgun along with one magazine for the same weapon. No police equipment was stolen from the vehicle.
Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigators collected evidence to be analyzed, inclusive of a surveillance video of one suspect attempting to gain entry into a van.
Police would like to encourage people to lock vehicles, remove any valuables and report any suspicious activity. Avoid leaving any amount of money visible from the outside. A small amount of visible change often is enough for a thief to break to steal the contents. Also, keep in mind that well lit exterior areas of your home tend to be a deterrent for thieves, as they prefer to hide in the shadows of darkness.
Indiana State Police Investigators are working closely with the Hancock County Sheriff's Office and the Cumberland Police Department in an effort to identify suspects. Anybody with information about these crimes are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.
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Perrine / Bursten
