Cobleskill Police are cautioning residents to lock their cars at night after a string of break-ins 10 days ago.
Police continue to seek the person or persons who broke into 15 cars on nine different streets the night of June 17.
Police believe the same people are probably responsible for offensive graffiti sprayed on streets, sidewalks and a mailbox about the same time.
Police Chief Rich Bialkowski said the first complaints came in at midnight on Saturday the 17th; two vehicles had been entered, he said.
An investigation the next day indicated that 13 other cars parked in driveways or on streets, had been gone through.
Also, one tire was punctured, Chief Bialkowski said.
The break-ins occurred on Elm Street, Washington Avenue, North Grand Street, North Street, Union Street, Iroquois Drive, Meadow Lane, Pine Street and Quarry Street, according to Chief Bialkowski.
Small change and other items, few of any value, were taken, he added.
Chief Bialkowski emphasized that none of the cars were locked and no locked cars were broken into.
“There was no forced entry,” he said. “These were crimes of opportunity.
“Take your keys, lock your car, and don’t leave anything of any value in it. And if your car’s in the driveway at night, leave an outside light on.”
Chief Bialkowski described the graffiti as “random in type.” The ‘N word’ was painted on a mailbox, he said, but didn’t apply to anyone in the home.
The satanic numerals ‘666’ were painted on Elm Street, and a sexual reference was painted on a sidewalk was a third incident.
No car break-ins or graffiti have occurred since last weekend, but police are continuing their investigation, Chief Bialkowski said.
“At this point, we’ll see if any information or evidence develops,” he said.
Sometimes information comes from an unrelated investigation, Chief Bialkowski added. Often, however, people coming forward help.
“We rely on the public,” Chief Bialkowski said. “If people see or remember something suspicious, they should call us.”
The Cobleskill PD number is 234-2923.