ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is asking the community for help after surveillance cameras caught five men on camera trying to break into cars in a county neighborhood.
The surveillance video shows the men testing the door handles of cars to see if the cars doors are open before heading toward the next car in the Twin Lakes area, just west of Interstate 95 on State Road 207.
The Sheriff's Office said the guys attempted to break into the cars just before 5 a.m., barely missing a neighbor who went to walk their dog right after.
Linda Masters, who lives in the area, has been the victim of burglary having her house and car broken into, and no longer takes any chances.
"I have my ADT security system, I have the click set key pad entry, I have my regular locks, I have added deadbolts, I have deadbolts on the interior doors in my closets," Masters said. "I actually double and triple-check. When I lock everything up I'll come out and double-check. If I got to the mailbox, I'll double-check that I locked them."
News4Jax's crime and safety analyst, Gil Smith, said that's the way to do it because if not, anything inside the car is open for crooks.
"You have a computer bag, cellphone, they'll check in the car's compartments. There may be a firearm, whatever they can find, and then they're gone, just like that. This is why you should not carry your firearm in your vehicle if you're not there," Smith said.
"Take that few extra minutes. Hang up your phone, make sure your car doors are locked, front doors are locked," Masters said.
Police described two of the men as black males, one wearing a hat, shorts, T-shirt and sneakers. The other one was wearing a sweater with a hood, basketball shoes and shorts.
The men were only able to get into one vehicle which was ransacked though nothing of importance was taken.
Deputies are asking anyone with information on the burglaries to contact the Sheriff's Office Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS where tipsters may be eligible for a reward up to $3,000.