By Dane Anderson, Staff Writer

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office has again issued a citizen’s alert, warning residents of the Lake Hills and Cuernavaca neighborhoods that burglars are active in the area. 

The TCSO previously  issued alerts concerning burglaries in the Rob Roy and Bunny Run areas in July. Detective Danny Canty said that the activity is a continuation of car and home burglaries that occurred throughout the Austin area during the last year. He said the burglars are opening unlocked cars and breaking the windows of some locked vehicles that have valuable property like computers, cell phones and iPods left in plain sight. The thieves are also taking garage door openers from the vehicles and using them to walk through garages or walking through garage doors left open to enter homes while residents are sleeping. It is an ongoing problem that Canty fears could escalate into even more serious crimes as burglars and residents interact.

“It’s going on all over,” Canty said. “They aren’t targeting anyone in particular, just trying car doors and seeing what is lying around.”

Canty said he noticed an increase in the car burglaries during the summer of 2008, and the activity continues, despite investigations by several law agencies.

“It’s rings of kids,” he said. “They hit about 100 –150 cars an evening.”

The problem may be even more widespread than thought, because not all crimes are being reported. 

“If your car or home is broken into, or an attempt is made to burglarize your property, call the police immediately, even if nothing is stolen,” Canty said. “We need to know what areas are developing problems so we know where the criminals are active. Otherwise, we can’t do anything about it.”

Canty said the thefts are crimes of opportunity – burglars looking for easy targets. To reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim, lock your car at all times and don’t leave valuable property in sight. Take special care to conceal cell phones, GPS chargers and GPS suction         cups attached to windshields. 

“Don’t be a victim,” Canty said. “A little forethought and common sense can go a long way in keeping you safe.”