We like to think our belongings are safe, especially in the light of day, but recent crime numbers indicate a lot of us tend to have false senses of security.

If you’re looking for an iPod or a GPS device or a cell phone to steal, you might not have to go far. Criminals aren't; they don’t have to go any farther than your workplace parking lot.

"We've seen a significant increase in the number of vehicle break-ins. We've had 150 in the last three weeks,” said Springfield Police Maj. Kevin Routh.

That's an increase of about 60 percent over a typical three-week period. Many of them are in the southwest part of the city -- and the thieves haven't even had to give it much effort.

"In about 75 percent of cases, we're seeing no damage to vehicles,” said Routh.

Going through KY3’s parking lot, just for demonstration purposes, a reporter and videographer were able to see valuables in cars. They were also able to see just how easily they could get in without any sign of forced entry; some of the vehicle doors were wide open.

“I'm not too far away from it inside, so I just assumed it was safe,” said KY3 employee Dorrie Hummel.

While Hummel didn't have any valuables in sight, she did have something else.

“I've got my remote on the visor,” she said.

“We see a number of break-ins where items in the car aren't the primary target, but garage door openers are used to get into garages,” said Routh.

"Right in my front seat is my garage door opener,” said Hummel.

Kristy Schiebel's car was locked but that doesn't cross her off the target list.

"I see my iPod adapter,” said Schiebel, another KY3 employee.

In addition to that, there was a little identifying information that could make that garage door opener all the more useful.

"There's a bank statement there, too,” she said. “They could just look and find anything about me."

Police say these are tough crimes to solve, so the best idea is to put valuables out of sight -- in the trunk, if possible, and, of course, lock those car doors, even at home. Some of these break-ins have happened in people's own driveways.
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Edited news release from Springfield Police Department:

SPRINGFIELD -- City officers continue to investigate numerous thefts from vehicles. In approximately a 15-day span starting on Sept. 15, the department received 143 reports of vehicle break-ins.

The majority of the break-ins are occurring in the south-central and southwest part of the city. Thieves are targeting purses, wallets, global positioning systems, radios, and laptop computers that are left in vehicles.

In nearly half of the cases, no force was used to break into the vehicles, indicating the vehicles were unlocked. In 22 percent of the cases, the owners of the vehicles admitted they left the vehicle unlocked.

The theft of purses, and wallets left in vehicles often results in credit cards and personal identification being fraudulently used by the thieves. Police remind citizens that the best deterrent against vehicle break-ins is locking your car and removing items that can be easily stolen.

Police also recommend parking your car in a garage at night, and in areas they are well lit if left on a parking lot. Police also recommend removing garage door openers if a car is left outside at night.