Waynesboro Police investigating rash of vehicle break-ins in retail corridor

The Waynesboro Police Department is investigating a spurt of vehicle break-ins that occurred yesterday, in which the targets appear to be employees of retail businesses, particularly big box stores.  During an hour and a half time frame, three vehicles parked in lots in the city’s retail corridor were broken into during broad daylight and had belongings stolen.

• In the first incident which was reported around 3:30 p.m., someone smashed a window of a 2005 Jeep Liberty that belongs to a 58-year-old female employee of Home Depot, 31 Windigrove Drive. The suspect stole cigarettes, change, and a phone charger.

• In the second incident which was reported around 4:20 p.m., someone smashed a window of a 2007 Honda that belongs to a 17 year old female employee of Zues Theater, 120 Osage Lane. The suspect stole the victim’s purse.

• In the third incident reported around 5:00 p.m., someone smashed a window of a 2003 Ford pick-up truck that belongs to a 20 year old female employee of K Mart, 2712 West Main Street. The suspect stole the victim’s purse and gym bag.

In two of the incidents, witnesses reported seeing a suspect who could be male or female in his or her 20s with long sandy blonde hair driving a red Chevrolet Malibu around the entered vehicles.

While daylight thefts of this kind are not common, they do tend to happen more during the summer.  The Police Department urges citizens not to leave valuables unattended in vehicles even in their own driveways.

Anyone with information in this incident is asked to call the Waynesboro Police Department at (540) 942-6675 or Central Shenandoah Crime Stoppers at 1(800)322-2017.  Information given to Crime Stoppers may be given anonymously.  Callers with information that lead to an arrest in this case are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Update: 7:36 p.m. A fourth incident of a smash and grab vehicle burglary was reported around 3:25 p.m. today.  Someone smashed a window of a 2002 GMC Yukon that belongs to a 31 year old female employee of Cracker Barrel, 101 Apple Tree Lane.  The assailant stole the victim’s purse.