The Van Buren Police Department is currently looking into multiple vehicle breaking and entering reports that have occurred throughout the city, according to a news release from Detective Jonathan Wear, Public Information Officer for the Van Buren Police Department.
Authorities believe there are two separate incidents due to the nature of the thefts and how they were committed, according to the news release.
The first group of thefts started over the weekend in the Van Buren City Park and Field of Dreams areas.
Three vehicles had windows broken out so that the suspect could take purses and items of value. There were several people at the Field of Dreams and City Park when the thefts took place. At this time, the only suspect information available is that they may have been driving a white Toyota 4-door passenger car.
One witness described the vehicle to be very clean and have shiny wheels.
The second group of thefts occurred in the Vista Hills area of Van Buren north of North Hills Blvd and Kitty Hawk Street on Tuesday at approximately 11:15 p.m., according to the news release.
In these thefts, the suspects were walking around the neighborhood pulling on car door handles to see if they were locked, and all the items stolen were from unlocked vehicles. One of the victims caught the suspect in the act and this resulted in the suspect fleeing the scene on foot.
The suspect fled from Kitty Hawk Drive, across a field and toward Lovers Lane and Fir Drive. The suspect was wearing black gloves and a beanie cap at the time of the theft, according to the news release.
Van Buren Police want to urge citizens to lock their doors and remove valuables from their vehicles. Anyone with information on these crimes is urged to contact the Van Buren Police Department at 479-474-1234. They can also call the River Valley Crimestoppers at 78-CRIME.
