Rash of Car Thefts/Break-ins In White Plains
White Plains neighborhood associations and the Police Department have reported a series of random car thefts and break-ins that occurred in the Rosedale area of White Plains Tuesday morning between 2 and 5 a.m.
Four vehicles were stolen from driveways, and an additional five vehicles had property stolen that was left in the vehicles. None of the vehicles suffered smashed windshields or other damage.
The investigation reveals a few leads and is very active at this time. These incidents have occurred occasionally in other surrounding communities in NYC, Westchester and Rockland. White Plains police are coordinating with NYPD auto crime and the intelligence center.
The method of operations used seems to be one vehicle with up to five or six persons and a driver that comes into a neighborhood randomly. The persons are dropped off and just walk the streets checking parked vehicles in driveways. The vehicles are not forcibly broken into, they are left unlocked some with the keys or starter FOBs in them. This is a simple theft. Other vehicles were left unlocked with valuables in plain sight such as cell phones, laptops, purses, etc.
These are opportunist criminals. If a car is secured or in a lighted spot, they just move on to the next vehicle.
As police investigate these crimes they ask that anyone with outdoor video, check their systems for the early morning hours of Tuesday October 28th. Even if your car was not broken into you may have valuable video for the police.
Everyone is urged to lock car doors and not leave keys in cars. Also, remove or hide valuable items such as iPhones, laptops, purses, packages, etc .
There will be an increased police presence in the neighborhoods and there will be unmarked plainclothes officers in the area. The police believe the thieves have moved on.
Anyone with information or an outdoor security video should contact the White Plains Detective Division at 914-422-6200. All calls will be kept confidential.
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