8 Vehicle Break-ins in Du Quoin Recently

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Du Quoin police continue their ongoing investigation of a handful of weekend car and truck break-ins on East Poplar Street, Laurel Avenue, East Park Street, Madison Street and North Lake Drive in Du Quoin.

Chief of Police Mike Ward and Assistant Chief of Police Jamie Ellermeyer say the break-ins were reported Monday.

Ellermeyer said police are cultivating leads and are keeping close watch over the neighborhoods.

The breakins and thefts largely involve cars and trucks that are unlocked and items being grabbed from the seats.

Any loose change in cup holders, checkbooks or billfolds in the seat, small items in the seat--even a GPS navigational unit--are targets.

Police believe it is the same person or persons involved in working the neighborhoods.

The best defense is to lock your vehicle, keep items out of sight of the windshield and windows and park in a garage, near the house or under a light.

If you have any information or are missing items and don't know why, please contact the police department at 542-2131.