By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
Salina Police Department officers recommend that residents not leave their vehicles unattended with keys inside due to a recent string of car thefts.
Between 7:25 and 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, a resident reported their vehicle as stolen in the 1000 block of Pershing Street after starting it to warm up.
According to SPD Capt. James Feldman, the vehicle is a gray 2008 Chrysler 300 valued at $5,000 with a Kansas tag that reads 425RSR.
"It was in [the resident's] driveway warming up with the key in it," Feldman said. "When the owner looked out, the vehicle was gone."
Feldman then urged residents that if they would like to warm up their cars in the morning before leaving home, they should do so while sitting in the car rather than leaving it unlocked.
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Another vehicle theft occurred from AAMCO, a local repair shop in the 2200 block of Tulane Avenue, earlier this month. Feldman said the victim reported the incident on Wednesday this week.
The timeframe for when someone stole the red 2008 Dodge Dakota SXT truck was between Jan. 5 and Jan. 17, but Feldman said the theft likely occurred on Jan. 7.
"The truck was in the area to be repaired. The keys were not in it, so we don't know exactly how it was stolen," Feldman said. "We have no suspects, and it has not been recovered."
SPD officers valued the vehicle at $15,000, and the tags associated with the vehicle are Colorado tags that read AYJI58.