Awbrey Butte thefts prompt reminder: Lock cars, doors

A string of burglaries and thefts late Friday and early Saturday in a neighborhood on Bend’s Awbrey Butte underscores the need for residents to lock their cars and doors, police said Sunday.

Officers responded around 4:30 a.m. Saturday to a possible burglary in progress in the area of Northwest Pickett Court, said Sgt. Liz Lawrence.

The suspects had entered through an unlocked garage door and rummaged through cars parked in the garage, Lawrence said.

Police soon learned that the suspects entered another garage on nearby Goodwillie Court, also through an unlocked door — and in that case entered the home through an unlocked interior door and stole a purse from the kitchen, the sergeant said,

More victims in the area reported finding their vehicles — all unlocked — had been entered and property stolen, between about 9 p.m. Friday and 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Lawrence said police brought in a K-9 team to help search the area but did not find the suspects.

Lawrence said police would like to hear from any other victims, who can contact them through Deschutes County dispatchers at 541-693-6911.

“We would like to remind people to lock their cars and not to store valuables (such as) checkbooks, wallets, iPads (and) cell phones in their vehicles,” Lawrence told NewsChannel 21.

“Home safety is paramount too,” she added, “and (we) remind people to lock their doors (even when home) and make sure their garage doors are closed and walk-in doors are locked and secured.”