Police investigate string of thefts from cars

More than half a dozen thefts on Thursday, March 11, from unlocked vehicles throughout Birmingham allowed thieves to use freshly stolen credit cards in a string of new crimes, police said.

Seven residents told Birmingham police their vehicles broken into, with several of the victims missing purses, wallets, money and credit cards left in their automobiles. Police believe all of the vehicles were left unlocked.

The Birmingham Police Department received its first call in the string of thefts about 8:04 a.m. on March 11 from a 36-year-old woman whose purse and contents were discovered strewn across several lawns in the 200 block of Southfield Road.

The victim reported that she was missing several credit cards and $2,000 in gift cards.

A second report at 8:34 a.m. was from a woman in the 600 block of Stanley who said two unlocked vehicles at her residence were broken into overnight. The third came at 10:30 a.m. from a man in the 300 block of Southfield who said his wallet was missing and his credit cards were used in other cities. Three additional thefts, including the 600 block of Riverside, were subsequently reported, all believed to occur on or about Thursday, March 11.

The victim of the Southfield incident reported that he was missing a brown wallet which contained several credit cards and $120 in cash. He also stated that his credit card was used four times at a CVS in another city and and again at a gas station.

“This incident is believed to have been tied to a string of others,” police said. “Multiple suspects have been identified and questioned while attempting to use these and other stolen credit cards in another city. The case is under investigation.”