And whoever is responsible for the thefts has been very busy the last couple of days.
Five cars were broken into Tuesday night in the parking lot of a restaurant in Wayne. It's the latest in a rash of break-ins that has Radnor Township police sounding the alert.
The targeted cars have all been parked in restaurant parking lots.
Over the past few years, the Wayne area has become a popular dining destination with an influx of new restaurants.
It's a relatively safe Main Line community with a very low crime rate. It's not surprising that people let their guard down, and the police say a group of professionals is taking advantage of that sense of security.
"We believe that they do have some experience and that they are also carefully picking their locations. The timing is also very, very suspect, because they are happening between 6:30pm and 7:30pm during that dinner hour when people are out," explained Sgt. Andy Block of the Radnor Township Police.
The thieves are targeting people who leave work and stop at a restaurant on their way home. They're going after laptops, and other electronic items that are left in full view.
They hit five cars in the parking lot of George Perrier's restaurant Tuesday night.
"This is a shame. You know, we've owned this restaurant for 10 years, and this is the first time this has happened. And it's not only happening here, it is happening everywhere, and it's a shame," said George Perrier.
On January 20th, the thieves hit two cars in the White Dog parking lot. And on February 9th, they ransacked two cars in the Chili's parking lot.
The police say the thieves apparently spend a lot of time peering into windows looking for valuables.
"Obviously, if you can keep the valuables out of your car, that's a good thing. If you have them in there, lock them in the trunk, put them under the seat, or put them in a vanity and cover them up, so out of sight, out of mind, so to speak," said Sgt. Block.
The thieves have been careful to pick lots that don't have surveillance cameras.
The police want you to call 9-1-1 right away if you see suspicious activity, or, if you know something, you can leave an anonymous tip at 610-687-8851.
