26 cars reportedly burgarlized locally

Car larceny

 

Thieves strike village cars

Police continue to investigate a series of thefts from vehicles that took place in the early morning hours of Sunday in the village.

Granville Police Chief Ernie Bassett Jr. said at least 26 vehicles were entered by a thief or thieves, according to complaints already reported.

 

“That’s including the three (complaints) I took in today,” Bassett said Monday. Bassett said the thefts appeared to be the worst rash of break-ins during his time as chief.

“We haven’t had anything like this; usually it’s maybe two or three,” he said.

He said he could not recall an occurrence of thefts of this volume happening before in the village.

Residents figured out they had been victimized when they came out to their vehicles in the morning to find a mess inside, Bassett said.

Residents of seven village streets have been finding out items had been taken from their unlocked vehicles between late Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday. Items were taken or in some cases moved and the interiors of the vehicles were frequently found ransacked. Some found items missing; others did not.

None of the vehicles was broken into, but had been left unlocked, he said.

The thieves entered vehicles on Pacific, Factory, Elm, Columbus, Lincoln, Franklin and Church streets, police said.

Items taken ranged from loose change and compact discs to an iPod and a TomTom GPS unit.

In one case a shopping bag with quarts of synthetic motor oil was taken from one car and found in a neighboring yard and in some cases discs were taken but not in others, police said.

Elm Street resident Mark Faxon said he knew of several neighbors who had been ripped off during the spree, including his brother Dale who had items taken from his vehicle like loose change and a pocket knife.

Police said additional items were taken but declined to identify them.

“We’re encouraging people to lock their doors and secure any valuable property inside their residences; don’t leave it in their vehicles. Also, I know this is hunting season but it is never a good idea to leave a firearm in a vehicle,” Bassett said.

Bassett said he planned to conduct interviews but declined to name those individuals as suspects in the case.

Anyone who believes they might have been a victim is asked to call the GVPD at 642-1414.

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Tags: Bassett, Church Streets, Elm Street, Faxon, Larceny, Loose Change, Police Chief, Rash, Thieves, Village Residents, Village Streets