Thieves are smashing their way through vehicles in the Salemtown neighborhood, just north of downtown. They’re leaving behind a trail of damaged cars.
Community members say when the thieves break into their vehicles, they’re not taking valuables like wallets and sunglasses. They believe they’re after guns.
Lauren Oaks says her neighbors are tired of waking up and seeing the damage on 6th Ave North.
“We’ve collectively had 15 windows I would say in the last 3 to 4 months,” Neighbor Brad Miser said.
Neighbors caught the acts on video. It shows a masked person jumping through the window — immediately starting to look for valuables. Another angle shows two masked suspects walking in the street. You can see one of them carrying a gun in their right hand.
“They’re very comfortable with what they’re doing. It leads me to think we need increase patrols, and increase lighting, and more vigilance as citizens to protect ourselves from these situations,” Miser said.
“If people could secure their weapons and make sure there isn’t the opportunity for it. They will stop doing it,” District 19 Council member Jacob Kupin said.