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The Demopolis Police Department is warning citizens to keep their vehicle doors locked and remove the keys after opening several investigations into vehicle thefts and burglaries.

According to Police Chief Rex Flowers, four vehicles were stolen in a two- to three-week span. One was recovered in Marengo County. Another stolen vehicle out of Tuscaloosa was recovered in Demopolis. Flowers said the Marengo County Sheriff’s Office has reported three vehicles stolen.

“The common denominator in each of these incidents is that the doors were unlocked and the keys were inside,” Flowers said.

Another link in all the vehicles taken is that they were all 3/4 to 1-ton work trucks.

Law enforcement is asking residents and business owners to lock their vehicles, conceal any valuable items from view and to report any suspicious activity as the cases continue to be investigated.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, September 18 issue of the Demopolis Times.)