Orange police have a “person of interest” in a series of vehicle burglaries in Little Cypress reported on Friday and the weekend. Also, two vehicles were reported stolen and later recovered.
Detective Captain Robert Enmon said he cannot emphasize the importance of making sure vehicles are locked.
The vehicle thefts and burglaries were mainly north of Interstate 10 and south of Allie Payne Road between Highway 87 and 27th Street. Two were reported east of the railroad tracks along Highway 87 North. Those streets were Pine Needle Drive and Mickler Drive.
In addition, the concession stand of Orange Youth Baseball and Softball on Eddleman Road had a door pried off and items stolen. A forced entry was also reported in a burglary of a shed on Allie Payne Road.
On Friday, a burglary of a residence was reported in Navy Park, and the office of the Orange Apartments, 3322 Ridgemont Drive, was hit by a burglar.
Captain Enmon said investigators think one person was responsible for the thefts from vehicles and the stolen vehicles.
One car owner lost $7 worth of winning lottery tickets and said he forgot to lock the car.
People waking up on Friday morning discovered the thefts. The first one was reported at 5:40 a.m. in the 4400 block of Memorial Drive. Later in the morning, another was in the 4000 block of Memorial, the 4700 block of Meeks Drive, the 4400 block of 27th Street, and the 2600 block of Clark Lane.
The vehicle burglary on Clark Lane was a work van and more than $2,200 worth of tools like a torch kit, a vacuum reclaim pump, and a freon gauge were stolen.
Then on Friday afternoon, a resident in the 200 block of West Dewey Avenue in the Navy Park addition returned from work to discover a break-in at the house with several items missing. The thief had rummaged through the residence.
Saturday morning, the manager of the Orange Apartments called to report someone had forced their way into the office and taken things.
Police were called at 10:17 a.m. Sunday to 16th Street at Robin Drive in Greenway Park. A vehicle had been left blocking in the roadway of 16th Street. The vehicle belonged to someone living in the 1700 block of Robin Drive and had been parked in the residential driveway.
Also, a stolen vehicle was reported from the 5500 block of Pine Needle Drive on Sunday morning.
Members of the Orange Youth Baseball and Softball League called about noon Sunday to report the concession stand break-in. The metal door had been pried open and burglary bars were cut.
A $190 cash register was stolen along with cases of Dr Pepper, Coke, Sprite, and Powerade. Other missing items were ring pops, sunflower seeds, Snickers, and M&Ms.
The burglar, or burglars, sprayed the concession stand with a fire extinguisher, which left a yellow powder. Police found the print of a size 11 running shoe in the powder.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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