Electronic devices, designer sunglasses and other valuables were left behind, but one or more car burglars made off with a bunch of owners’ manuals after shattering the passenger side windows of “numerous” vehicles during a car burglary spree in Wilton Manors, police said.
It happened between 3 and 5 a.m. on Monday in the parking lot at a residential condominium complex at 2124 N.E. Fifth Ave., investigators said.
The burglar or burglars broke into the vehicles’ glove compartments, taking the owners’ manuals and registration information, according to some victims.
Resident Gary Sikorski told WSVN-Ch.7 he was puzzled why the burglars didn’t take his GPS and a pair of nice sunglasses.
“One of my neighbors that I was talking to said, ‘No, the only thing they took out of my car was the owner’s manual.’ I went through my stuff that I had pulled out of the car, and I said, ‘Wow, that’s really strange. Mine is gone, too,’ and then I had called my other neighbor, and he said his manual was gone as well.”
Some vehicle manuals contain code numbers for electronic keys that burglars can use to clone keys in order to steal the vehicle later, investigators said.
Wilton Manors police advise residents to remove all valuables and any identifying information from their vehicles and always close and lock the windows and doors to discourage burglars.
Investigators are asking anyone with information or surveillance pictures or video showing the crimes to contact Wilton Manors Police Detective Patrick Newton at 954-390-2150 or pnewton@wmpd.org.
Anonymous tips can always be given to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.
wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4303 or Twitter @WayneRoustan