Burglars target unlocked cars on West Bank

St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne is reminding residents once again to lock their vehicles after a spurt of burglaries last week.

Champagne said that several vehicles were burglarized in the early morning hours last Tuesday. Cars were broken into in five different areas on the West Bank, including Mimosa, Old Luling, Luling and Paradis.

"Information that we have indicates that all of the above automobile break-ins were likely connected," Champagne wrote in an email alert. "At least one perpetrator was on foot going from car to car looking for unlocked vehicles while an accomplice was nearby in a getaway vehicle."

Champagne believes that the crimes occurred between 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Tuesday. Items stolen include iPods, electric tools, a camera, prescription medication, sunglasses, an iPad and a laptop computer.

A vehicle in St. Rose was also burglarized that morning, but Champagne does not believe the crime is connected to the West Bank thefts.

"We are asking for everyone in these general areas to check your video surveillance recordings if you have it," Champagne said. "Folks, the only way we are going to realistically prevent this type of crime, which is becoming more common, is for everyone to remove valuables from your car at night and to lock them."

Anyone with information on these burglaries is asked to contact Det. Jeremy Pitchford at (985)783-1135.