Madera police investigate multiple cars stolen overnight

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- While people were sleeping Sunday morning, a man in a hooded sweatshirt was on a grand theft auto mission.

He walked past several cars parked on the side of the road on Lilly Street in Madera, checking them out before making his pick and taking off with them. "We have had a rise in vehicle thefts since December and definitely, six in a night is rare for us," Corporal Mark Trukki with the Madera Police Department explained.

Police believe the suspect is responsible for three of those six auto thefts. Two were Honda's and a Nissan truck were stolen.

Neighbor Eddie Rodriguez says he had his car broken into in the same area two months ago. So, the news of it happening again in his neighborhood is concerning, "they came in and stole a bunch of my tools a bunch of my change, it sucks," he said.

Madera police say on Cleveland Avenue and Sonora Street there were three additional overnight auto thefts.

The department posted tips on its Facebook page to help people avoid becoming a target. "We don't want the public to be alarmed," Trukki said. "Be concerned and secure your items."

Neighbor Fabian Espitia says he usually does not lock his car but is going to take note of the warning, "I'll probably start locking my car doors more because I used to live elsewhere and they did break into my car, but I thought here was a lot safer than there," he said.