The El Dorado Police Department is investigating numerous vehicle break-ins that have been reported within the past 48 hours on the west side of town, and police are asking for the public’s help in helping to track down the thieves.
At least 11 vehicles were targeted in the areas of Crawford, Virginia, Moore, Bradley and West Fifth, Sixth and Seventh streets, where thieves made off with three firearms and an undetermined amount of change, according to police reports.
Officers noted there were no signs of forcible entry in either of the incidents, and all of the vehicles are believed to have been unlocked at the time.
Police are asking residents to review available video footage from any surveillance cameras in the area and call investigators at 870-881-4810.
At 5:13 a.m. Monday, officers responded to a breaking-or-entering report at a residence in the 800 block of Virginia. A man told officers that someone entered two vehicles there. No items were reported missing.
In the 900 block of Virginia, police made contact with two residents, speaking to one of the residents after noticing the doors of a pickup truck were unlocked.
The owner of the pickup said a .38-caliber handgun and some change were missing. A woman said several items had been disturbed inside her vehicle, but nothing appeared to be missing.
Police were called at 5:30 a.m. to a residence in the 800 block of Crawford, where a man said someone had entered his pickup truck and strewn items inside.
As officers circulated the area, they noticed a door ajar on a vehicle at a residence in the 1400 block of West Fifth, according to a police report.
Residents there said an undetermined amount of loose change was missing from the vehicle.
Police made their way to Moore Street and noticed the doors open to vehicles at two houses in the 1000 block. No items were reported missing from either vehicle.
A short time later, officers spotted another vehicle that was unlocked in the 600 block of East Sixth and made contact with the owner, who said a .17-caliber Ruger rifle with a scope had been stolen from the vehicle.
A black jacket that was on the ground nearby had covered the rifle inside the SUV, the man told officers.
He said someone had entered the SUV the previous week and taken another firearm, but he did not report the incident to police
Two vehicle break-ins were reported Sunday night in the 600 block of West Sixth and the 500 block of West Seventh.
No items were reported missing from the break-in on West Sixth.
A man told police that a .9 mm, Baretta APX handgun was taken his work truck at his West Seventh Street residence.
Another vehicle break-in was reported Monday in the 400 block of South Bradley. Details about the incident were not available late Monday afternoon.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].