Published: January 23, 2008 09:15 pm      

Princeton officials warn citizens of rash of ‘smash and grabs’

PRINCETON — A series of “smash and grabs” to vehicles parked at restaurants in the Meadowfield Lane area near Princeton has officials warning customers to be alert to their surroundings and suspicious individuals.

Trooper 1st Class A.H. Young, with the Princeton Detachment of the West Virginia State Police, said there have been four cases in the last four days in which car windows were busted and items inside the vehicles stolen.

Most of the stolen items were women’s purses, he said.

“They’re just going through the parking lot, looking inside the vehicle and smashing the window out and grabbing the purse,” Young said.

Tuesday night, two items resembling purses were stolen from a parked vehicle after the window was broken. However, Young said the items turned out not to be handbags — one was a makeup bag and the other a dog carrier made in a purse design.

“This is a reoccurring problem,” Young said. “And most of these victims are good, hard-working people who just want to go out and have dinner.”

When these thefts occur, victims not only lose cash, Young said. “It also opens up the door to identity theft,” as many women carry their driver’s license, check book, social security card and other personal information in their purses.

Young encouraged individuals who see strange behavior to write down a description of the suspicious vehicle and the license plate number, and then contact police immediately with the information.

The thefts have occurred in parking lots near the Texas Steakhouse, Applebee’s and Cracker Barrel, Young said.

“You would think somebody would see something,” he said. “But if they have seen it, they’re not coming forward with it.”

Young encouraged anyone with possible information on the crimes to contact the Princeton Detachment of the West Virginia State Police at 425-2101.

— Contact Samantha Perry at sperry@bdtonline.com