PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Police say four people are responsible for a wave of car burglaries and thefts in Port St. Lucie in just a matter of days.
According to the police department, the crimes happened between Oct. 18 and 23 at locations throughout the city.
At least five vehicles were stolen, along with wallets, driver's licenses, credit and debit cards, personal checks, jewelry, a child's car seat, and an iPhone.
"We found out a neighbor of ours found their truck was stolen in the middle of the night, so we checked our Ring footage and found a car going really slow through the neighborhood," said a resident named Cancilla.
That Ring video was turned over to Port St. Lucie police, which In the last month, has dealt with 30 car burglaries and auto thefts. One case involved a marked Palm Beach County deputy’s cruiser.
"It was a gym bag and some HAZMAT material that was taken from that," said Detective Tim Herring.
Police said two of the suspects, 19-year-old Robert Lewis and 18-year-old Denzel Glasco, were arrested in Broward County for crimes that occurred there. A third suspect, 19-year-old Darrol Glasco, was captured in St. Lucie County, and a fourth suspect, 29-year-old Steve Francois, is also under arrest.
All four suspects are facing a variety of charges including burglary, grand theft auto, fraud, and possession of a stolen debit/credit card.
As we enter the holiday season, police remind people to remove all valuables from your cars, lock your car doors, and if you see something suspicious in your neighborhood, report it to authorities right away.
If you purchase something from a store, consider going back home and dropping off the items before going back out.
Detectives say if crooks can spot something of value in your vehicle, they’re going to try and take it.
"Complacency is going to get you, whether it’s in a residential neighborhood or a public parking lot," added Detective John Morgan.
Four residents of Broward County have been arrested in recent days in connection with many of the crimes. One told detectives why the city is a target for thieves.
“You have Turnpike and I-95 that traverse right through the city, and Port St. Lucie residents are known to leave vehicles unsecured," said Detective Herring.