UPDATE: 05/12/24
CCPD responded to our request for comment on 05/09/24 saying that there have been, "12 Burglary of Motor Vehicle and five Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle in the two subdivisions between 05/04 and 05/08.
The department also said, "We are seeing small groups of young (possibly juveniles) committing multiple BMV (burglary motor vehicle), Attempted UUMV’s (unathoritzed use motor vehicle) and UUMV’s late at night and the early morning hours. Most of the BMV’s and UUMV’s are a result of citizens not locking their car doors, keeping valuables and firearms in their unlocked vehicles and spare keys in their unlocked vehicles. The KIA and Hyundai vehicle UUMV’s are still occurring, and it is a common MO to break the glass to access the ignition. A good portion of these thefts are being prevented by citizens following through with “updates” to their vehicles." police say.
CCPD reinforced, "If you like it, lock it!! Park in well-lit areas, lock your doors, call the police if you see suspicious subjects, lock your doors, secure all spare keys, Lock your doors. These burglars have been caught on surveillance cameras carrying firearms, please use caution and call 911. The Auto Theft Task Force will continue to follow up on leads and educate the public." CCPD said.
At least two subdivisions on the Southside, Rancho Vista and Terra Mar, have been the target of several vehicle related-thefts.
Rancho Vista resident Amanda Rupenski said since she's lived in the subdivision for about the last 10 years and this is the first instance of attempted theft she has experienced.
"So I kind of started looking around and the glove compartment was open with a book fallen on the floor and I thought, somebody definitely broke in. And somebody definitely broke in. And so I just checked my app on my phone and sure enough it showed at 2:10 a.m. somebody breaking in," Rupenski said.
While Rupenski didn’t have anything stolen, others weren’t so lucky. This map shows all of the police reports filed of theft from vehicles or theft of vehicles since May 4.
One man who did not want to be identified who also lives on the Southside said he had a firearm stolen out of his vehicle during the same time frame.
KRIS 6 News reached out to the Corpus Christi Police Department on the crime spree anddid not hear back before airtime. But Rupenski said CCPD spoke with after she filed her police report.
"[CCPD said] We should not go outside if somebody is breaking into the car, because it’s very dangerous. There had people come tell them that they’ve been shot at or have actually been killed. So they told us do not go out and try to approach them. Just call the police," Rupenski said.
KRIS 6 News will keep you updated as this story progresses.
For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App.
