Warmer weather is on the way, and police are warning people to not leave any valuables in their cars while enjoying the outdoors.
Deputies say they saw a large increase in vehicle burglaries last month, specifically at trailheads and parks.
Peggy Taber, an avid hiker, says that while hiking at Hunter Creek, she and her friends unfortunately had to learn the hard way to not leave purses in the backseat - even with a security screen on the car.
She says, "By the time we came back, I noticed that my windows were down about a quarter inch all the way around and a piece of plastic came off the lock mechanism off the front door. I thought, 'Well, that was odd'. They punched the lock, rolled the windows down, got in."
Taber tells us by the time she and her friends left the trail, the thieves already attempted to charge over $2,000 worth of merchandise at two Home Depot locations. Luckily the cards declined.
Regardless of all the warnings, Jim Forman, who's hiked at Huffaker Hills every day for 40 years, says he's not too worried.
"I don't think it's been a problem, and I really haven't heard any of the regulars complain. There's a group of us, at least five or six every morning, haven't heard anything there. I have my phone in my truck, but I put it out of sight."
Police say if you do fall victim of a burglary then to report it to your local agency under that jurisdiction.
