Isle of Wight County, Va. - A huge spike in crimes in the last few weeks in Isle of Wight County has investigators concerned.
Wednesday night investigators with the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office were looking for a man who they said was caught on camera using stolen credit cards.
They said the credit cards he was using were taken out of a car parked in a garage inside an Isle of Wight home.
So far, leaders with the Sheriff's Office said he purchased about $4,000 in items in a half a dozen stores throughout the Peninsula and drove away in a white truck.
This happened on December 10th, but there are more problems in the county.
Since the beginning of the month deputies have been responding to more and more people complaining about thieves stealing out of their parked cars.
Isle of Wight Sheriff's Office Lt. Thomas Potter said, "It is an extraordinarily higher number than normal, but again we are approaching the holiday season and our message to our residents and all the viewers through Hampton Roads is to be very vigilant in securing your items.”
They have seen the spike in problems in the Eagle Harbor section of Carrollton.
They said 20 victims have reported that items have been stolen out of their cars since the beginning of December.
Arnell Moore said his neighbor's car was just broken into the other day.
“When he woke up in the morning, his stuff was gone. I think it was something like a camera that was missing," says Moore.
Leaders with the Sheriff’s Office say for the most part, thieves are going from car to car trying to see which ones are open.
Raymond Anderson said, "I have noticed that the sheriff’s department have been doing more patrols out here moreso.”
"Our message is to lock your vehicles and take items of value out of your car. Don't make yourself an easy target for those people that want to take advantage of the situation,” said Lt. Potter. "We have a limited number of law enforcement officers, but there are 35,000 residents in this county and if you see something in this county suspicious, call us.”
