Oldham County Police Chief Greg Smith is asking residents to lock their cars up, put items away, close their garage doors and keep their keys and guns out of their vehicles.
So far in 2024, Oldham County police have reported 50 car break-ins with 40 of those in April. In addition, there have been 33 vehicle thefts and 17 firearms taken from vehicles.
Smith said in almost all cases, the cars were left unlocked. He said residents must beware and lock their cars. Nearly all of the thefts take place between 1 and 4 a.m., according to footage obtained on Ring cameras by police.
Smith said the firearms for him are the most troubling.
“They are prowling and looking for unlocked vehicles. We have one sergeant and six officers patrolling at night. I don’t like to think about what could happen if one of my officers comes up on someone inside a stolen vehicle with a firearm that has been left inside,” he said.
The thefts are occurring throughout the entire county, not in one specific area, Smith said.