Updated 6:02 p.m. Monday
Davidson police received at least 20 complaints of automobile break-ins over the weekend, including two stolen cars that later were recovered in Cornelius. The break-ins, nearly all involving unlocked cars, came in neighborhoods around town from Davidson Gateway Drive and the Delburg Street area to Lorimer Road and the McConnell neighborhood.

It was the third time in three weeks that thieves on the prowl for unlocked cars struck Davidson neighborhoods. A similar rash of break-ins was reported on Sept. 17 and that followed another series of break-ins on Sept. 12.

The word seems to be out that we don’t lock our cars in Davidson. “There is a common theme: None of these vehicles were locked,” Police Chief Jeanne Miller said Monday afternoon.

Detailed incident reports were not available Monday about the latest outbreak. But police said thieves found keys for both vehicles stolen Saturday night or early Sunday. In one case, on Kinderston Drive off Delburg Street, keys were left in the vehicle. In another case, in the 600 block of Dogwood Lane, the thief or thieves entered one unlocked car and found keys for another vehicle which was stolen.

Both stolen vehicles were recovered in Cornelius, one on North Main Street. That also was the case with a Hillside Drive resident’s car that was stolen Sept. 17. Police found it four days later at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, on North Main Street in Cornelius.

In most cases, nothing appeared to be missing from the vehicles, though electronic devices including GPS units have been taken from some.

Chief Miller said police received 11 calls about break-ins on Saturday night and Sunday morning, including two on Jetton Street, two on Davidson Gateway Drive, and the remainer in the Kinderston Drive/Delburg Street area, known as the Woods at Lake Davidson.

At around 2:06 a.m. Monday, police received a call from a resident about a strange man in the back yard on Harper Lee Street, in the St. Alban’s neighborhood, Detective Steve Ingram said.

Police searched with a police dog, but found nobody. Then later Monday, at least 10 residents called to complain about break-ins, including Ashby Drive, Lorimer Road, Dogwood Lane, and Concord Road, and Vernon Drive in the Twin Oaks neighborhood, off South Main Street.

One of the calls on Lorimer Road came from a homeowner who reported someone broke into a garage and stole a bicycle. The bicycle later was recovered, according to Davidson Detective Steve Ingram.

Chief Miller said police are investigating, including checking the two stolen vehicles for possible fingerprints.  She asked that residents check to see if their auto registration and insurance papers are safe. Several automobile owners have reported papers missing.

Police issued a warning over the town’s emergency alert telephone system Monday afternoon reminding residents to lock their cars and remove valuables. In that message, just before 6 p.m., was as follows:

This is Sergeant Scott Misenheimer from the Davidson Police Department calling to remind you to remove all valuables from your vehicles. Please secure your vehicles in a garage, set an alarm, and/or lock the vehicle. DO NOT to store keys to the vehicle, other family vehicles, or your home, in cars left outside.

Anyone with information about the break-ins is asked to call the police at 704-892-5131.

RELATED COVERAGE

Oct. 8, 2012, CorneliusNews.net, “Police nab suspect in auto break-ins and car theft after he crashes stolen car”

Sept. 27, 2012, “SUV stolen from Hillside Drive, kayak taken from dock”

Sept. 20, 2012, “Thieves target work sites, autos; fraud cases reported.”

Sept. 17, 2012, “Rash of auto break-ins reported in downtown Davidson.”