Some thieves stop at nothing to break in

Thefts of autos and the things inside them is a perennial crime. About all vehicle owners can do to deter criminals is lock the doors. But even then, vehicles and the valuables left inside are still at risk as these recent cases show.

• Sometime before 1 p.m. on Aug. 19, someone broke the vent window of a 1996 Ford Bronco parked at the Thomas Fulghum Center in the 4000 block of Cogbill Road, cut the wiring to the ignition and tried to pop the steering wheel in an unsuccessful attempt to steal the SUV.

• Sometime before midnight on Aug. 21, someone pried open the passenger window of a 1991 Honda Accord parked in the 10300 block of Iron Mill Road, unlocked the door and stole miscellaneous property.

Even hiding valuables in the trunk may not be enough to save your belongings as one woman recently found out when someone entered her unlocked 1999 Infiniti, which was parked at her home in the 3200 block of Able Court, sometime before 6 p.m. on Aug. 28, popped open the trunk and stole the purse she believed she’d locked inside.

Anyone with information about any unsolved crime should contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 748-0660 or text the code tip699 with the tip and send to 274637 (CRIMES).

In other crimes:

Blossom Pointe Road. Sometime before 8 a.m. on Aug. 9, someone stole copper piping from a construction site in the 12100 block.

Holden Road. Someone entered several unlocked vehicles parked in the 5600 block and stole clothing, guns, jewelry, electronics and other property sometime before midnight on Aug. 30.

Jefferson Davis Highway. Someone stole copper line from behind Falling Creek Hair Stylists in the 6700 block on or before Aug. 25.

• At 8:55 p.m. on Aug. 26, an armed suspect entered the Market Place in the 7900 block and approached the counter. The clerk yelled and ran. The suspect jumped over the counter and tried unsuccessfully to get cash from the register before fleeing.

Larkspur Road. Sometime before 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 26, someone broke into a home in the 8600 block and stole firearms, cash and jewelry.

Lost Forest Drive. At 5:20 p.m. on Aug. 26, someone reported finding a small fire burning in a drainpipe in the 9200 block.

Marbleridge Road. Sometime before 4 p.m. on Aug. 25, someone stole aluminum cans and copper wire from underneath the deck of a residence in the 400 block.

Midlothian Turnpike. Copper was stolen from property in the 15700 block sometime before 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 25.

Pocono Drive. At 10 p.m. on Aug. 28, someone reported that a hole had been cut in the chain-link fence around the Pocono Community Pool in the 500 block. Cash was stolen from the snack bar.

Station Road. Just before midnight on Aug. 16, someone reported that locks had been cut on several fences securing two cell towers in the 2100 block. Copper had been stolen.

Tinsley Drive. At 12:10 a.m. on Aug. 26, a brick was found inside Goodstuff Consignment in the 2700 block where it had been thrown through the glass in the front door. Cash had been stolen from a desk drawer.

Ware Bottom Spring Road. Sometime before 1:25 p.m. on Aug. 29, someone entered Southeastern Freight Lines in the 1500 block and stole several tires.

Wentworth Street. At about 8:50 p.m. on Aug. 28, someone stuffed paper into a plastic bottle filled with an unknown liquid and set it on fire in the 6800 block.

West Hundred Road. At 3 a.m. on Aug. 27, someone reported a trash can had been set on fire in a bathroom at the Thomas Dale High School football stadium in the 3600 block.