New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office shares safety tips after multiple car break-ins

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Dozens of cars were vandalized in a Myrtle Grover neighborhood earlier this week. 

Early Monday morning, Sarah Sloan says her neighbors woke up to dozens of cars that were vandalized. 

Sloan lives in the Cadia Myrtle Landing neighborhood off Myrtle Grove Road. 

She says neighbors were missing electronics and other valuable items from their cars.  

But no windows were broken—that’s because all of the cars were unlocked. 

“Police officers kept having to come back, because people were waking up, realizing their cars had been broken into. So it was until I think the last police officer came at like 7:30 at night,” Sloan recalled. 

Major Chris Smith with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office recommends keeping a routine to keep your valuables safe. 

“When you come home from work, or before you go to bed at night, make sure that you take all your valuables out of your vehicle, lock your vehicle,” he said. “Certainly, don’t use your vehicle as a location to store firearms overnight. And then also turn lights on. The more light you have around your property, the better deterrence that is.” 

Sloan adds don’t assume just because you live in a nice area that it couldn’t happen to you. 

“I mean it’s a really safe neighborhood. Like the kids run and play, and you don’t really have to worry about them,” she said. “Just remember to lock your doors.” 

Major Smith says while property crime levels remain steady in the county, there is often an uptick during the summer due to the influx of visitors.