Juvenile arrested in connection with vehicle break-ins

Mountain Home Police arrested a juvenile male Thursday evening in connection with a series of vehicle break-ins.

Police officers made the arrest after they responded to several calls regarding a juvenile male looking into vehicles parked in front of local businesses.

Patrol officers located a suspect matching the description of the individual. During the course of their initial investigation, officers discovered the teen was in possession of stolen property.

In recent days, city police have responded to several calls referencing items being stolen from vehicles parked outside of businesses during daylight hours. All of these reports involved victims who left their car doors unlocked with their valuables left in plain sight.

"As these investigations continue, we are asking the public to be more vigilant and report any suspicious activity," said Officer Melanie Broughton, a spokesperson with the city police department.

Auto burglary is crime of opportunity, and most of these thefts occur when valuables are left unattended in an unsecured vehicle, the officer said. The thief normally seeks privacy to commit their act.

"Virtually any article left in plain view is apt to be stolen," Broughton said. "The victim provides the burglar with the opportunity by leaving their vehicle unlocked or their window open."

City police offered the following tips to deter potential car thieves:

- Remove visible items from your vehicle. "If you leave items visible in your car, you are a target," Broughton said. "Be aware that someone may be watching as you put a wallet, purse or cell phone under your seat, especially at a gym. Take these with you or secure them in your trunk."

- Lock a vehicle and take the keys, even for quick errands.

- Lock the trunk, hatchback or tailgate to block access into the vehicle.

- Close all windows, including vent or wing windows and sunroofs.

- Buy a vehicle alarm and use it. Many people believe that alarms no longer make a difference. However, they do remain an effective deterrent to a burglar, Broughton said.

"Remember, criminals are looking for the easy target," she added.

- Don't attach personal information to vehicle keys. If keys are stolen, having personal information or vehicle license number attached to them only compounds the problem, the officer said. A criminal now may have access to a person's home and office.

- Don't leave outgoing or incoming mail in a car, especially where it's visible since it includes a person's name and address.

- Avoid leading garage door openers a car if possible.

- Avoid announcing vacation plans on social media. It's easy for criminals to use that information to plan a burglary.

- At home, park a car in a garage when possible. If parked outside, leave the car locked.

- Park in a well-lit area and check to see if the vehicle is visible from pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

- Record the serial numbers and other pertinent information, including the make and model for of electronic devices, like laptop computers, tablets and cell phones. It's also a good idea to be familiar with the features of these devices since some have the ability to be tracked if stolen. "Knowing how to activate this service quickly can greatly help law enforcement recover your property and arrest those responsible," Broughton said.

To report suspicious activity, call the Elmore County dispatch center at 587-2100 or the Mountain Home Police Department during regular business hours at 587-2101.