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Police: Polk thieves targetting cars, lock doors

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Authorities are warning people to lock their car doors because thieves have targeted cars in two neighborhoods in one morning.
 
“I woke up in the morning and my bag from work was just all over the driveway,” Leah Dopp said.
 
The burglaries happened Monday, May 30 between 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.
 
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office released surveillance video of a possible suspect. They believe there may have been other people with him that morning. Authorities said they targeted several streets in Loma Vista and Bella Tuscana.
 
In the video, you see the suspect walk toward a truck and it appears he is spooked by a light turning on because the suspect walks away from it.
 
I’m really thankful that that neighbor had the surveillance camera,” Dopp said.
 
More than 30 cars were targeted on Memorial Day.
 
“Ninety-nine percent of the time my vehicle is locked with the alarm on. Obviously, this time it wasn’t. So now I’m just super cautious,” Paul Gaffney said.
 
Neighbors said they will be more proactive to prevent it from happening again.
 
“I usually leave my car unlocked all the time. Not no more,” Brenda Gatward said.
 
If you have any information about this case, contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (863-236-3900) or Heartland Crime Stoppers (1-800-226-TIPS).