Thieves Busted
Thefts from cars are among the most unreported, most unsolved crimes but they're a big and costly frustration for victims.
After a month-long investigation Chattanooga Police have nabbed two people they say have hit dozens of cars. The thieves left a trail of evidence for detectives to follow, leading them to the people they say have been stealing anything they can quickly grab out of cars.
"It was good detective work on the part of our property crimes investigators," Chattanooga Police Sergeant Jerri Weary said.
Investigators said they caught Roy Petty red-handed with a store's security camera. They said he used credit cards stolen from cars he burglarized to buy things for himself. Petty is charged with 30 counts of burglary and theft and 7 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card. He is now linked to car break-ins in the East Brainerd area.
Thieves look for anything of value left in plain sight -- electronic gadgets, purses and wallets, CD's that can easily be pawned or bags stuffed with valuables.
Police said thieves are doing what they can to get inside cars, from smashing glass windows to just going into cars that were left unlocked.
"Some of the vehicles have been parked overnight, some of the vehicles are broken into during broad daylight," Sgt. Weary said. "That's the reason for checking the mode of operation, trying to link it back to a particular individual who's committed the same type of crime in the past."
Police also charged Jesse Ervin with 10 burglaries from cars in the Brainerd area.
Besides busting thieves investigators also traced stolen items to pawn shops.
"And found these people's property, so retrieving their property is the ultimate goal," Sgt. Weary added.
Investigators are also developing leads on other suspected thieves. So far 47 cases have been solved, leading to 115 charges.
Police want to remind you to lock your cars, don't leave valuables in sight and always file a police report if you're car is broken into because you just might get your stuff back.
