Police warn of overnight vehicle entries; two new officers to join patrol in coming months

Rising Sun’s police chief told the board the town has seen multiple overnight vehicle entries and a few vehicle thefts in the northwest county, and urged residents to lock vehicles and remove valuables.

"When you go to bed at night, lock your vehicles. Take all the valuables out of them, lock them. Do not leave your keys in your vehicles," the chief said, adding that video footage captured in some cases is not clear enough to make firm identifications. He said investigators are working leads with state and neighboring municipal agencies.

The chief announced Officer Cunningham has completed required training and will be on solo patrol starting tomorrow. He also said a second officer is due to start the academy on Sept. 9 and will require approximately six months of academy training plus additional field training before working alone.

Commissioner Pearson and the chief both emphasized that many incidents appear to involve unlocked vehicles and left-on keys, and encouraged public vigilance.