Thieves are breaking into northeast Fresno cars. Here’s how you can protect yourself

Dozens of cars are being broken into in the northeast Fresno area.

In the past 14 days, 37 vehicles have been broken into in the Northeast Policing District, according to the Fresno Police Department.

The number of vehicle burglaries is actually 17 less from the previous two-week stretch.

But the concern is that the break-ins have continued, with the most common method of entry being a window smashed to gain items in sight.

The Fresno Police Department urged people to not leave anything in your vehicles, including purses, wallets or other items thieves may view as valuable.

Fresno police also said there has been an increase in people leaving driver’s license, credit cards and passports in the car– which potentially exposes victims to identity theft.

Money has been removed from victims’ bank accounts and charges have been made on their credit cards.

Fresno police also said that though people might want to leave car windows slightly open because of the heat, a cracked window could make it that much easier for a thief to reach in and steal things.

This story was originally published June 26, 2017 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Thieves are breaking into northeast Fresno cars. Here’s how you can protect yourself."