Police investigate 27 car break-ins across Myrtle Beach in less than a week

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) – Police are investigating after more than two dozen cars were burglarized within a three-mile radius this week, according to a report.

Myrtle Beach Police Department’s website lists 11 different police reports from Saturday, November 16 to Tuesday, November 19, showing that a total of 27 cars were broken into.

Below is a timeline and a map of these crimes:

11/16/2019 - Officers were called to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center where two the windows on two different vehicles were smashed in. One victim told police her wallet was stolen out of her purse, which was laying on the floorboard of the car. The value of the items taken was $170.
11/17/2019 - Officers were called to Celebrity Circle near Broadway at the Beach. The victim says they had a Smith and Wesson 40 caliber gun inside of the vehicle that was stolen. The value of the items taken was $345.
11/17/2019 - Officers were called to Sticky Fingers after an employee saw a car’s window smashed in. The victim said his wife’s purse was stolen from under the driver’s seat. The value of the items taken was $30.
11/18/2019 - Officers were called to the Anderson Ocean Club Parking Deck where the victim said a wallet with several debit and credit cards and a golf bag and clubs were stolen. The value of the items taken was $2,770.
11/18/2019 - Officers were called to the Anderson Ocean Club Parking Deck where several items were taken from a car including a cell phone charger and a handicap sticker. The value of the items taken was $20.
11/18/2019 - Police were called to a house on Maple Street where the victim says her car had been broken into. She told police they took an Apple watch, her debit cards, social security card, driver’s license, and several other items. The value of the items taken was $780.
11/19/2019 - Officers were called to the Hilton Garden Inn at Coastal Grand Mall for a car break-in report. Once police were on the scene, they were told that six cars were burglarized. Hotel management says the back window of all six vehicles had been smashed in and the suspects were caught on video surveillance. The stolen items include purses, wallets, keys, debit cards, rings, a laptop, an iPad and pepper spray. The stolen property was valued at $4,770, the police report states.
11/19/2019 - Officers were called to the Comfort Suites on Frontage Road East where four cars had been broken into. The police report says the windows of the cars was smashed in on the four vehicles. A gun and its holster, a weather meter with applied ballistics, a laptop bookbag and dog tags were stolen. The stolen property was valued at $1,323.
11/19/2019 - Officers were called to La Quinta Inn and Suites where the windows of eight vehicles had been shattered. The report says the vehicles were rummaged through but nothing was taken.
11/19/2019 - Officers were called to a hotel on 21st Avenue North where the window of an SUV had been smashed out. The victim told police the only thing taken was a par of Apple Air Pods worth $100.
11/19/2019 - Officers were called to the Courtyard Marriott on 21st Avenue North where a car’s window was busted out but nothing was taken from the car.

Authorities say all of the items stolen put together are worth more than $11,000 and that doesn’t include the thousands of dollars in damage done to the cars.

“That’s high. Yeah, you know it’s a shame because people work hard and people need those cars to get back and forth to work and everything and depending on what they do, if there’s any damage to the cars,” said Mary Discher who said her vehicle was broken into several years back.

Nicolas Galvan said his car was just broken into within the last several weeks and though the suspects were never caught, he learned a valuable lesson.

“The place where I live has cameras all around. Really what I suggest is just to park in a very lit place. Sadly, when I was robbed, I was parked in a very dark area so you couldn’t see anything or who it was and they were wearing hoodies. But if they said if you would have been a little closer to the light we would have been able to identify the suspects,” Galvan said.

Below are a number of ways to try and prevent that from happening:

Keep cars visible
Keep windows and sunroofs closed, and doors locked
Hide all valuables and accessories
Do not put spare keys in such places as above the visor, in the center console or under the floor mat
Place items in the trunk before getting to the parking lot
Find another spot to park if suspicious activity is observed.

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