Rochester car break-ins see a Christmastime spike

Most of the cars were reported to be unlocked. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - The Christmas grinches are out there and breaking into your cars.

Eight break-ins or attempted break-ins of parked vehicles occurred in Rochester in less than five hours on Monday, fueling calls by police urging residents to make sure they keep their cars locked and secured when not in use this holiday season.

The thefts occurred from 6-11 a.m. approximately, on Hale and Lois streets and Madison Avenue, which each reported two break-ins apiece and on Snow Street which reported one.

Items stolen included DVDs and DVD players, sunglasses and money.

Some of the luckier victims returned to find the contents of their gloveboxes and center consoles emptied and strewn about the vehicle but nothing missing.

In all the incidents the victims said either their cars were unlocked or might have been unlocked. No forced entries were reported.