The Batavia Police Department is warning residents to lock their vehicles and to not leave valuables inside them after a string of burglaries to vehicles were reported in the city recently.
There were at least six reports of burglaries to vehicles taking place in the city between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, according to Batavia Police Sgt. Michelle Langston. In a news release, officials said several unlocked vehicles were ransacked, and in some cases, valuables were stolen.
One of the people who called to report a burglary said they saw a man, who was roughly 5 feet 4 inches tall and dressed in all black, near their vehicle, according to the release. The caller went outside and yelled at the man, who then ran to a dark SUV that was parked nearby and drove away, the release said.
The Batavia Police Department is looking to information concerning the burglaries and is asking for residents’ help, according to the release. It said the burglaries were focused in the western area of Batavia in the 300 block of North Jefferson Street, 100 block of North Mallory Street, the first block of South Harrison Street, the first block of South Jackson Street and the 500 block of First Street.
Officials are urging residents who had a vehicle broken into to report the crime if they haven’t already. Residents who live in the area of the recent burglaries are also being asked to provide security camera footage to the police department to help in the investigation, the news release said.
The Batavia Police Department can be reached at 630-454-2500.