By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Police say a number of vehicles were broken into while parked in the Planet Fitness parking lot late last week. In each of the crimes, the victims’ personal items were in plain view, authorities said.

Salisbury Police responded to Planet Fitness, 710 W. Jake Alexander Blvd., on Friday just before 7 a.m. where a woman reported someone broke the passenger window of her gold Kia. There was glass on the ground and inside the vehicle.

She told police her pink and black purse was taken, along with her Visa credit card. She said her vehicle was last known to be secured at 6:30 a.m.

While there, police were notified that another vehicle, a black Volkswagen Rabbit, had been broken into, a report said. This vehicle also had the passenger side window broken. The owner said he was notified by an employee around 7:08 a.m. He’d gone into the gym around 6 a.m.

It appeared that nothing was taken, but the owner did notice a black pair of sunglasses had been moved to another spot in the car.

A woman reported her red Prius was broken into with the passenger side window smashed. She arrived at the gym around 6:15 a.m. and it was reported to police at 6:47 a.m. She said a Fossil purse and wallet were taken. Another wallet and Coach sunglasses were also taken. Her wedding ring set and a high school ring were taken.

An officer spoke with another victim who said her white Chevy Cruse was broken into and side window was broken. A backpack was taken. It’s not clear what individual items were inside the bag.

Police say all of the victims reported their items were in plain sight in the vehicles.

Capt. Melonie Thompson said with the value of the broken windows and items taken, whoever committed the crime would face felony breaking and entering charges.

“Anything of value, especially purses, wallets, expensive sunglasses, loose change, book bags or any kind of electronic devices need to be stashed away in the trunk and out of sight,” Thompson said.

She also advises any weapons also need to be hidden. She suggests anyone with a GPS device to also wipe away the suction marks because they let would-be thieves know you have such a device in the vehicle.

Thompson suggested motorists have a copy of their debit/credit card numbers written down somewhere at home. She said it’s also a good idea to store the number for your credit card company somewhere as well because if the card is stolen, the number is usually located on the back of the card.

Serial numbers of any electronic devices should also be written down someplace other than with the device.

Anyone with information about the break-ins is asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333, Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245 or online via tips.salisburyrowancrimestoppers.org.