Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 5, 1991 TAG: 9103050441
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: VICTORIA RATCLIFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The burglaries apparently began early Sunday in the Chester Avenue and Hunters Trail areas of North County, according to Lt. Steve Turner of the Roanoke County Police Department.
Monday, residents of the North Lakes subdivision reported to police that vehicles in their neighborhood had been burglarized in early morning, Turner said.
Roanoke County authorities received at least 30 reports of break-ins, he said.
All of the cars were burglarized in residential areas, and most occurred in groups at addresses close to one another, Turner said.
The burglars entered the cars by either prying open doors or using a "slim jim" type instrument to raise the door locks, he said. In some cases the doors of the cars were unlocked to begin with.
The burglars primarily stole items left in the cars, such as a rifle and a VCR, Turner said. In a few cases, the burglars tried to take stereos out of the cars.
A car stolen in Roanoke County early Sunday was recovered later in the day in Botetourt County, Turner said.
Botetourt County Sheriff Norman Sprinkle said Monday that the car was found in the Apple Tree Village section. Items stolen from cars in Roanoke County were found in the car, he said.
Meanwhile, nine other vehicles in Apple Tree Village were broken into early Sunday, Sprinkle said.
In those burglaries, the only items taken were items lying loose in the cars or in the glove compartments, Sprinkle said. In a couple of cases, the cars simply were ransacked and nothing was taken, he said.
The burglaries in both counties are "definitely connected," Sprinkle said. "They started in Roanoke County and worked their way on down to Botetourt," he said.
Authorities say they have no suspects. Turner said none of the Roanoke County victims saw or heard anything.
by CNB