By Betsy Finklea
Local law enforcement agencies including the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Dillon Police Department, and the Latta Police Department are investigating a number of vehicle break-ins that have been occurring the past few months, but that have hit the Latta area particularly hard in the past few days.
Captain Cliff Arnette, Captain David Lane, Chief Crystal Moore, and Assistant Chief Derrick Cartwright are hoping to make the public more aware of these crimes.
Many of the vehicle break-ins are occurring on unlocked vehicles. They urge the public to lock their vehicles at night and to report any suspicious activity or suspicious people in their neighborhoods to 9-1-1, 841-3707 (the 9-1-1 non-emergency number), or by notifying their local police department.
Many of the items being taken are of little value, such as small change. Some larger items such as a GPS have not been taken. One car had the keys in it and was not taken. Law enforcement asks that you do not leave items of value in your vehicle unattended.
In the Latta Town limits, vehicle and other break-ins have been reported on Leitner Street, East Academy Street, Sessions Street, Zelle Street, Church Street, Willis Street, and Highland Drive.
In Dillon County, vehicle break-ins have been reported on Highway 917 East and Heather Drive at multiple locations.
Since May, the City of Dillon has had vehicle break-ins on Bea Court, Jefferson Street, the alley behind Dillon Muffler Shop, East Harrison Street at multiple locations, North Sixth Avenue, Rosewood Apartments, South Longstreet Road, East Madison Street, North 18th Avenue, North 12th Avenue, Cedar Terrace Apartments, Garden Court, North Fifth, Pecan Street,  North Eighth, West Main Street, East Wilson Street, South 12th Avenue, Stewart Street, Tyler Road, South Sixth, East Roosevelt , and East Main Street.
Anyone who has any information is asked to call their local law enforcement agency.