Police warn residents of ‘string of vehicle burglaries’ in North Salt Lake

NORTH SALT LAKE, Utah (ABC4) — The North Salt Lake Police Department is warning residents of a recent string of car burglaries in the Foxboro area as the suspect, or suspects, have not yet been caught.

Over the past few days, police say 11 Kia cars have been broken into in Foxboro — one of which was stolen and later returned — with the perpetrator smashing windows and destroying ignitions. In the Kia burglaries, no items were stolen from the vehicles leading detectives to believe the suspect was attempting to steal the cars.

Deputy Chief Mitch Gwilliam told ABC4 there have also been other burglaries in the area where the perpetrator had a different “m.o.,” or way of operating, targeting other brands of vehicles and stealing items from the cars.

The cases are currently under investigation and police are advising residents to take precautions to keep their vehicles safe. North Salt Lake police suggested residents keep their cars in a garage if possible and point cameras toward their vehicles.

If your car is burglarized, police say to call their non-emergency phone number at 801-298-6000.

Vehicle theft has been increasing since 2019 nationwide with a more than 40% increase in theft incidents from 2019 to 2023, according to an FBI special report. U.S. Department of Transportation authorities suggest taking several measures to help keep your vehicle safe, including removing all valuables from the car and parking in well-lit areas.

Officials say thieves don’t just look for purses and phones but will steal anything that they can sell, such as radios, airbags, engines, doors, and GPS units.

For this reason, federal officials recommend using antitheft devices and vehicle recovery systems to better protect your vehicle. Some examples of these systems and tactics are steering wheel locks, computer chips in ignition keys, theft-deterrent decals, and etching the VIN in the car windows.