LEESBURG, Va. — Police in Leesburg are investigating more than two dozen instances of theft and vehicle tampering over the course of one night. Police say 26 vehicles were involved, none of which were locked.
According to Leesburg investigators, 14 of the 26 vehicles had items stolen from inside. Items taken included a handgun, money, wallets, purses, credit cards and gift cards.
"The firearm for us is the most concerning," Michele Bowman, with the Leesburg Police,s aid.
Bowman said break-ins are not uncommon, but so many in a span of a couple hours is.
"In 2023 we had 132 total for the year," Bowan said. "So there are like pockets. What we find is a lot of the time it's juveniles, that go car to car, house to house. If the car is unlocked they'll go in the car even if it's a dollar in change."
Terry Shank and his wife were among the car owners hit in the string of break-ins.
"It really just pisses me off," Shank said. "We know so many people that were hit, and just from the ring camera, they were quick and swift. There was two on our ring camera -- one hit my car, one hit my wife's car. It was fast and furious."
Although nothing was taken from Shank's car he says the incidents are concerning.
"It's eye opening, because you don't know what the next step is," Shank said. "They start with the cars and end up in your house."
15 Streets were hit according to police:
• Artillery Terrace, NE
• Balls Bluff Road, NE
• Barksdale Drive, NE
• Bugle Court, NE
• Burt Court, NE
• Cambria Terrace, NE
• Chickasaw Place, NE
• Featherstone Lane, NE
• Haversack Court, NE
• Hunton Place, NE
• Keokuk Terrace, NE
• Shanks Evans Road, NE
• Stonefield Square, NE
• Tennessee Drive, NE
• Woodbridge Court, NE
Police released surveillance video of who they were looking for.
Just last week over 50 cars were broken into along two blocks of 29th Street in Northwest D.C. Police released surveillance video of the suspects riding a scooter.
Bowman said her investigators are working on determining if the suspects captured in Leesburg are connected to other cases in the region.
"We are checking not only with our partner jurisdictions here in the immediate area, but other regional as well to see if it is the same group or if they can help with identity," she said.
Anyone who may recognize the people in the surveillance footage is asked to contact police at 703-771-4500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call 703-443-TIPS.
Leesburg Police also offered some guidelines for reducing the risk of car break-ins.
- Lock cars: Always ensure your vehicle is locked, regardless of whether you’re parked in a public or private area.
- Secure valuables: Remove all valuable items from plain view or store them in the trunk.
- Firearms: Ensure your firearm is properly secured and stored in a locked safe inside your residence.
- Install security cameras and motion sensor lighting: There are many makes and models on the market that are affordable.
- Stay alert: Report any suspicious activity or individuals loitering around parked vehicles to law enforcement immediately.
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