Morro Bay sees rise in thefts from unattended vehicles

Morro Bay has experienced a rise in thefts from unattended vehicles over the past several months, according to a Morro Bay Police Department news release.

The news release stated Friday that there had been about 16 to 18 thefts from unlocked vehicles reported within the previous 24 hours. The majority of reported thefts occurred in South Morro Bay (Morro Heights) and surrounding neighborhoods in the early morning hours between 1 and 5 a.m.

Morro Bay Police urged San Luis Obispo County citizens to secure their vehicles and report any suspicious subjects or vehicles.

Individuals can help prevent crime by adhering to the following measures:

▪ When leaving a car unattended, always close the windows and sunroof, lock all doors and activate any security devices.

▪ Never leave valuables in plain sight or inside of the vehicle if not necessary.

▪ Power tool thefts are on the rise — secure any tool boxes or remove the tools if possible.

▪ Never leave the keys in an unattended car.

This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Morro Bay sees rise in thefts from unattended vehicles."