SALT LAKE CITY -- Police are investigating after a string of vehicle break-ins occurred at a popular park-and-ride location in Salt Lake City.
The Sears parking lot in downtown Salt Lake City is one of many pick up and drop off sites for Le Bus--the charter bus company that offers transportation to Wendover several times throughout the day.
But when Matthew Valles and several others got back to their cars at 4 a.m. Saturday, things were not as they had left them.
“My stereo system, my iPod, I had some headphones in there,” Valles said. “I did have cash with me, I know I shouldn’t have, but I didn’t want to take it with me and lose it so, hey: leave it in the car.”
Valles thought his car would be fine overnight in the Salt Lake City Sears lot; it’s a high-traffic area, and when he caught the charter bus to Wendover Friday at 6 p.m. it was well lit.
“Security said it happens all the time and the surveillance footage here isn’t that great,” Valles said. “When we look at the cameras we can’t really see anything.”
The bus returned to the same lot around 4 a.m. Saturday, and Valles estimates at least 10 cars had been broken into.
“There’s a minimum of 10, that was stayed here but there were definitely more,” Valles said.
Saturday afternoon, two cars with busted windows remained in the lot un-retrieved: it’s likely the owners are still in Wendover, unaware of the crime that’s been committed against them.
“It becomes a problem when vehicles are left unattended for long periods of time and valuables are left in plain view in the vehicles, than yeah it becomes an easy target,” said Sgt. Charli Goodman of the Salt Lake City Police Department.
It’s believed that several vehicles were broken into, but only two people actually filed a report with police. If you were a victim or have any information about the crimes, you’re asked to contact Salt Lake City police at (801) 799- 3000. Reports can also be filed online.
