Local

Fernandina Beach police call thieves ‘unwanted, unwelcome visitors' after 30 cars broken into

Fernandina Beach police said over 30 cars were broken into and one car was stolen Sunday night near the area of State Road 200 and South Fletcher Avenue.

The Police Department is urging people in the city of Fernandina Beach and in the unincorporated areas of the island to lock their car doors and remove valuables from their vehicles.

Police say all vehicles involved were unlocked, and according to the Police Department, last year over 95% of car burglaries involved unlocked cars.

Fernandina Beach police said the thieves who perform these kinds of burglaries usually work as a group, driving to an area together and then dispersing to tug on car doors.

The Police Department sent out a video of a person they are trying to identify. They are asking anyone who has information to call them at 904-310-3215.

Car Burglaries

Sunday night we had unwanted, unwelcomed visitors on the Island, the kind who do not contribute to the economy. Between the City and the unincorporated areas of the Island over 30 cars were burglarized in the area around the Parkway near 200 and on South Fletcher Avenue. In addition one car was stolen and FBPD officers recovered a stolen vehicle from Jacksonville. In each case the vehicle entered was unlocked. We encourage our community to remove valuables and lock their car doors. In the previous year over 95% of all car burglaries in our area have involved unlocked vehicles. At the FBPD we want to catch the bad guys doing this but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – let’s not be a fertile field for these thieves. As a side note crimes of this magnitude usually involve a group of thieves who drive into a neighborhood in the early morning hours and several will scatter in the area pulling on car doors. They are in and out very quick usually taking things they can easily carry. Also if you recognize the young wayward lad in the video let us know by calling 904-310-3215.

Posted by Fernandina Beach Police Department on Monday, October 15, 2018