Miner Police Department and surrounding agencies investigate vehicle break-ins

MINER, MO.(KBSI) – Multiple law enforcement agencies in the Southeast Missouri area are investigating a series of car break ins that have been reported over the last week. 

According to Miner Interim Police Chief Nathan Rapert six vehicles were broken into with several more at surrounding agencies with reports made in Sikeston and Bernie areas.

“We’ve seen an increase in, car break ins. We had an event, this past Monday night, where there’s multiple vehicles that were broken into here in the city. There were also several other surrounding agencies that had the same problem on the same evening” says Rapert.

Other agencies have reported stolen handguns and purses, but Rapert says all that was stolen from the Miner area was change and petty cash. He shares crimes like this are crimes of opportunity as many of the vehicle reports they receive state the vehicle is usually unlocked, making it an easy target for thieves.

“Lock your vehicles. The majority of the vehicles that have been, gone through and items have been taken from are unlocked. You know, so I think there‘s very few that were actually, I guess, broken into. The majority of them were just they’re going around checking doors. The door handles are unlocked, and they get in and find what they want” says Rapert.

Rapert says they have received some video footage and are actively investigating the situation but have not made an arrest at this time. He urges all citizens to take all valuables inside at the end of the day, lock up all vehicles, invest in security or ring cameras, and if you see something, report it immediately.

“If you see anything suspicious, especially late during the middle of the night, we’ve had several calls and we get this information that other people will call in and say, ‘you know, I seen somebody running through the yard at 3:00 in the morning’, but they don’t call us until the next afternoon. If you can call and give us that information, even if it turns out to be nothing. It gives our officers the opportunity to check on those things as they’re happening, not 12 hours later when they’re gone” says Rapert. 

Anyone with suspicious footage caught on a ring or security camera is urged to report it to their local police department.

To contact the Miner Police Department, call 573-471-8568.