Police across the state have been investigating an increase in car break-ins.
Hamden has been the latest target and police said there have been dozens on the south side of town in the last few weeks.
Investigators said thieves have been scouring quiet neighborhoods at night and scoping out cars with valuables inside.
"One of them came over. He was in this area, trying to check if there was a GPS or something," Randall Williams said.
Williams said he recently walked out of his home and saw two masked men peering through the windows of his truck.
"I guess a car came by and spooked them, and they ran off down the street," Williams said.
His neighbor on Malcom Street didn’t share the same fate. She didn’t want to disclose her name, but said she walked outside and her car door was open.
"I started the car, and the car started. Then I noticed my glove compartment was open. The middle part was open and I had a GPS in there and that was taken," she said.
She said her car wasn’t locked.
"I was shocked because it's such a safe neighborhood," she said.
Hamden police said most of the recent victims made the same mistake, by leaving their doors unlocked, and that’s why they want to warn everyone to lock up.
"I’m locking the door every night all the time," the victim on Malcom Street said.
She is one of dozens who learned the hard way and she has told her neighbors about it, so they don’t share the same fate.
"Just be careful make sure you lock your car," she warned them.
Police are still looking for the culprits.
