Belle Meade Hit With Rash of Auto Break-Ins

It would hardly raise eyebrows anywhere else, but five car break-ins in Belle Meade in two months has caught the attention of the satellite city's police force.

Belle Meade Police Chief Tim Eads said the five burglaries - plus another just outside the city limits- appear to be the handiwork of a well-organized cabal using multiple vehicles to commit their crimes. The vehicles targeted have all belonged to housekeepers or landscapers.

"They may be using a lead vehicle to spot/target what appears to be a house or grounds keeper’s vehicle unattended in the front of the house. A second vehicle will then come directly to the location and commit the crime," Eads said in a public safety alert sent Wednesday. "The suspects apparently have access to multiple vehicles. Therefore, an exact BOLO for a certain vehicle is not possible at this time."

All of the break-ins happened between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and all but one of the vehicles had a purse or wallet visible in the front seat. Three of the targeted cars were unlocked.

Belle Meade averages less than 10 burglaries per year over the last decade.

Image via Shutterstock.