21 Vehicles Broken Into Over Weekend
Area law enforcement leaders are encouraging folks to remove valuables from their cars following a rash of vehicle burglaries.
Schulenburg Police are investigating a string of vehicle burglaries that took place between Friday night and Saturday morning, Feb. 4-5.
Schulenburg Police Chief Troy Brenek said a total of 21 vehicles were reported burglarized. Those responsible got away with under $100 in cash and coins – far less than the damages they caused. Brenek said he believes the culprits were after guns or other valuables.
All of the break-ins happened in the southeast corner of Schulenburg between Simpson Street and August Street. The brazen thieves even broke into a Fayette County Sheriff’s patrol car that was parked outside a deputy’s home on August Street.
The first report came in around 6 a.m. on Feb. 5. Brenek said the burglaries took placebetween 8 p.m. on Friday and 5 a.m. on Saturday, likely after midnight. Brenek believes a group of burglars was responsible.
“We were successful in gathering evidence that can hopefully lead us in the right direction,” Brenek said. Brenek said the burglaries were possibly related to a string of recent vehicle break-ins that took place in Columbus. Columbus Police Chief Skip Edman reported numerous car break-ins that resulted in some stolen firearms, which took place over the two weekends of Jan. 15 and 21.
“People buy guns to protect themselves from criminals, but they leave them in their cars unlocked and easy to see,” Edman said. “Then they’re arming the criminals with better guns than criminals can get. So take your guns in your house.”
If anyone has information about the burglaries, call Schulenburg Police at (979) 743-2677.
Flatonia Police Chief Lee Dick told his City Council Tuesday that officers will begin patroling with flood lights activated at night in an effort to catch or deter burglars. Dick encouraged residents to remove valuables and to park in well-lit areas. Hallettsville and Shiner police reported several car burglaries on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Shiner Police said witnesses reported seeing two black male suspects in a sliver or gray Ford Explorer, and witnesses reported seeing the same suspects trying to sell “advantage cleaning products” during the day.