Manatee County Sheriff’s Office investigates vehicle burglaries

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect of four vehicle robberies.

Sometime between 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30 and 6 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, someone allegedly gained access to four vehicles in Greenbrook Village East.

The vehicles were located on the 15600 block of Lemon Fish Drive and the 15300 block of Blue Fish Circle.

The Sheriff’s Office report states that all the vehicles were unlocked. An unknown person entered the vehicles and rummaged through the interior. Some items were stolen from the cars.

“It needs to become second nature for people- when you get out of your car, lock you car,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dave Bristow. "You let your guard down, and that’s typical. But that can end in you being a victim.”

Before locking and leaving a vehicle, residents should also make sure nothing valuable is visible. Bristow said criminals often check a car to see if it’s unlocked, then look inside to see if anything is valuable.

“If it’s locked and they can see an iPad, they’re probably going to break in at that point,” he said. “If there’s nothing visible, they'll probably go on to the next vehicle."

Bristow said if anybody sees any suspicious activity or strange vehicles in the neighborhood, they should call the Sheriff’s Office and make a report.