Recent Car Break-ins

Reference:Recent Car Break-ins

The Portsmouth Police Department is currently investigating numerous car break-ins that have occurred throughout the City in recent weeks. Many of the acts are believed to have been committed by a group specifically targeting parking lots of gyms, athletic facilities and commercial buildings. Entry is generally made by breaking a window in the vehicle and they are specifically looking for driver’s licenses, credit cards, and checkbooks.

Hiding your wallet or purse under your seat is not the answer to thwart these thieves. Leave your valuables at home. Treat your locked car as if it were left wide open. Also, do yourself a favor, don’t treat your purse and wallet as a vault to your entire life. Minimize the amount of sensitive information you carry on you, such as IDs, Social Security cards, health care cards, etc. Also, minimize the amount of credit cards, debit cards, and checks you have on you. Each of these become valuable assets to criminals and significant liabilities to you as a victim.

If you find yourself in a situation where your belongings were taken, report it to the police immediately. These individuals will quickly attempt to make purchases on your credit cards, and use your ID to write and cash checks against your account(s). Call your financial institutions immediately to report the status of your credit cards/debit cards/checks to ensure you narrow the window of opportunity to access your funds.

These crimes are fueled by the availability of your sensitive/financial information in your vehicles.

If you have any information concerning these investigation, Portsmouth Police are asking you contact Detective Seth Tondreault at (603) 610-7613.

Or you may also choose to remain anonymous by reporting any information to Seacoast Crime Stoppers by calling (603) 431-1199, texting CRIMES (274637) and including TIPSCS in the message, or you may submit a confidential tip online by visiting the Seacoast Crime Stoppers website at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.com or the Facebook page. Rewards of up to $1,000.00 may be paid for help solving cases if the information leads to the arrest or indictment of a suspect(s).