Year-long string of car break-ins

Following a year-long string of car break-ins in crowded parking lots during early evening hours in Rome, Costolnick asks people to be more vigilant and conscientious about where they put their electronics.

“They are drilling a hole in the locking mechanism,” Costolnick said, adding the thief or thieves may also be popping the car door locks.

The first theft was reported in September 2015, and the most recent one happened about two weeks ago. They usually happen between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. in large, full parking lots, Costolnick said.

Cars have been broken into at the YMCA, BlueFin Sushi and Grill, Harbin Clinic, Applebee’s, Gala Plaza in West Rome and the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Department on Shorter Avenue.

The suspect or suspects are typically stealing bags that appear to hold electronics that are kept in plain sight in the vehicles.

He also suspects that the thief or thieves are using a vehicle to get away because three thefts with the same method of break-in happened within two hours of each other on opposite sides of town.

Costolnick said more thefts may have occurred but haven’t been reported, as people conclude that they may have just misplaced something.

“Don’t put your stuff where it can be seen,” Costolnick warned, and if someone sees something that looks suspicious, call 911 and get a license plate number.