Milton Residents Wake To Find Cars Entered Into Overnight

MILTON, GA — The Milton Police Department reports that multiple entering autos occurred during the overnight and early morning hours of Thursday, June 6. In addition, three vehicles were stolen with one auto being recovered late Thursday afternoon.

Most of the cars involved in the overnight crimes were left unlocked in the victims' driveways. Approximately five owners reported that they did not have any personal belongings missing.

"We're proud to be consistently ranked Georgia's second safest city, but these types of crimes can happen anywhere and it's important that our residents remain vigilant," said Milton Police Chief Rich Austin. "The department has a regular campaign, 'take, lock, and hide,' that reminds residents how important it is to secure their belongings and lock their car doors."

Austin reports that in Milton more than 80 percent of vehicles are typically entered into not through window smashes, but through unlocked car doors.

Milton police officers and detectives remained on the scene throughout Thursday, collecting evidence. The locations were primarily in the neighborhoods of Champions Close, Oakstone Glen, Hopewell Downs, and Kings County Court, all located along Hopewell Road. All three stolen vehicles were more susceptible to theft as the keys were easily located inside an unsecured vehicle.

"We were pleased to find that not everyone experienced a loss of property," said Captain Shawn McCarty of the Milton Criminal Investigations Division. "We can't stress enough how important it is to secure your automobiles; no matter how safe you may feel."

Though MPD routinely patrols neighborhoods within the city, patrols will be more concentrated in this area in the near future to help prevent further victimization and to educate citizens.

If anyone has any information regarding these crimes, contact Detective Bradshaw at christopher.bradshaw@cityofmiltonga.us.