PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – It’s easy to get in a hurry and forget to lock car doors, but the simple habit can prevent a person from losing something valuable.
Multiple people in the Lagoon Oaks neighborhood woke up Tuesday, Nov. 18, to find their cars had been broken into. So far, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office reports 24 vehicles were targeted.
“I told him that my car had been broken into and they got like two of my wallets and I had a bag of change in there. A little while later, they found my wallets and everything on the opposite side of the road,” said neighborhood resident Michelle Henderson.
Another neighbor, Broyce Hazell, told NewsChannel 7 that he found his car door open when investigators arrived.
“It’s the first time I didn’t have to call the officer when something happened. They showed up to tell me, ‘Hey, you know this is happening,’ and we found out I was part of it,” Hazell said, describing the morning of the incident.
The act is called “car hopping,” said Jason Daffin, captain of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
“They just go from door to door, car to car, knowing that they’re going to find some that are unlocked,” Daffin said.
Burglars usually don’t break in unless they spot something valuable, he added. The best way to prevent theft is to remove valuables from the car and lock the doors.
“We’re all human, and sometimes we forget to lock our doors. It happens, and it’s not our fault. But somebody shouldn’t be walking around checking door handles,” Daffin said.
The investigation is ongoing, and more than one person is believed to be involved, Daffin said.
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