SALISBURY — Investigators are looking into a number of vehicle break-ins in a western Rowan County neighborhood.

According to reports, all of the vehicles were unlocked and items of value were left inside.

Aragon Perez, 26, told deputies her vehicle was broken into in the 200 block of Cherokee Lane between midnight and 7:05 a.m. Thursday. She said she went to bed about midnight and left her Michael Kors purse, wallet and $600 in her vehicle. The home is off Hurley School Road.

The vehicle was unlocked. Perez told deputies the contents of her purse were dumped on the ground, including her debit card and Social Security card. The purse, which was valued at $450; the wallet, valued at $100; and the cash were stolen, she told Rowan County Sheriff’s Office investigators.

Buffy Marlowe, 43, reported that between 7 p.m. Wednesday and at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, items were taken from her unlocked vehicle. Officials said her Michael Kors purse, valued at $200; tanning goggles; and an $80 pair of Bluetooth headphones were taken. The theft occurred in the 100 block of Myers Place, off Hurley School Road and U.S. 70.

Christy Lanning, 38, reported that between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 6:45 a.m. Thursday, someone broke into her 2008 Jeep Wrangler in the 100 block of Archer Road. The vehicle was unlocked, and she found the door slightly ajar Thursday morning. Nothing appeared missing, but her glove box was opened. Her husband went outside to smoke about 10 p.m. Wednesday and reported that nothing was out of place.

Jessica Lanning, 34, reported that her unlocked Jeep Cherokee Latitude was rifled through. The vehicle was last known to be secured about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Archer Road. She discovered the attempted theft about 6:45 a.m. Thursday when she saw her door wasn’t completely closed.

Someone had gone through the glove box. There was no damage to the vehicle, and nothing was taken, said Sheriff’s Office Capt. John Sifford.

Lesia Mullins, 51, told deputies that someone went through her unlocked 2011 Ford Fusion that was last known to be secured at 3 p.m. Wednesday. A 5 a.m. Thursday, she discovered that someone had opened the driver’s side door and rifled through the front console. A report said items from her console were strewn on the vehicle’s front seat.

The only thing she noticed missing was a bag of pennies that she estimated to be about $3, Sifford said. Her vehicle was parked at her home in the 100 block of Myers Place.

Tereysha Robles, 26, reported Thursday that items were stolen from her mother’s vehicle in the 100 block of Myers Place. The last time she knew the vehicle was secured was 5 p.m. Wednesday. She noticed it was broken into about 5 a.m. Thursday, a report said.

Officials said Robles’ mother, Carmen Torres, had $220 in her vehicle and her daughter had $1,300 in the glove box. The vehicle had not been locked.

Authorities encourage residents not to leave items of value in plain sight inside a vehicle.

Sifford said vehicles should be locked and advised owners not to leave money, laptops or purses in vehicles.

“These are things thieves can quickly carry off,” he said.

He said some people feel that if they lock their doors, thieves can still break into the vehicle and, in the process, cause damage. He said that’s true but added that thieves who break into a locked vehicle run the risk of alerting owners or dogs who may hear the noise of glass breaking.

Anyone with information about the vehicle break-ins is asked to contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700 or Salisbury-Rowan CrimeStoppers at 866-639-5245.