Eagle police say at about a dozen people who mistakenly left their garage doors open or unlocked this summer have had items stolen from inside — including an SUV with the keys left inside, golf clubs, and expensive tools.
Thieves entered into four unlocked garages earlier this week — two on Languna Shore Lane and two on Parkforest Way — taking items like credit cards and cash from cars inside. The thieves also broke into several unlocked cars on the street or in driveways.
The other burglaries occurred earlier this summer – including three subdivisions off Eagle Road and another in the State Street/Linder Road neighborhood.
Our theory is the thieves are just cruising through neighborhoods looking for people who have left their garage doors open by accident — including side doors.
So the best way to avoid being a victim of theft is to make sure your homes and vehicles are locked all the time. That includes side doors to garages.
So lock your cars and trucks. Lock your front doors. Lock your garage doors. Lock the side doors to your garage. Just lock it all up – you’ll likely be glad you did.
There have been numerous cases over the years of people “jockeyboxing” – which means they walk through neighborhoods and check to see if cars, trucks, and garages are locked. If they are not, thieves then go through and steal anything of value. Sometimes they will check side garage doors during such sprees.
The SUV thieves stole out of a unlocked garage in June was found abandoned days later in Nampa.
Anyone with information should call Eagle Police at 938-2260.