Woodburn Independent Online

Hubbard police expect car break-ins to ease

• By: Rachel Cavanaugh  
• Published: 1/22/2010 5:37:16 PM

HUBBARD — Hubbard Police Department (HPD) officials say they expect a decrease in car break-ins after arrests made in Woodburn on Wednesday.
 
“I would be surprised if we have any car break-ins in the near future based on the individuals that have been arrested and charged and brought to our attention,” said HPD Sgt. William Gill.
 
Gill said Joshua Dodgion, 24, who was arrested this week (see story above), was one of the individuals Hubbard police had identified as a suspect. Another man who lived at the house with Dodgion was identified in a video surveillance camera using a credit card stolen from a Hubbard vehicle. He was also a suspect.
 
That man was also arrested Wednesday.
 
Hubbard’s police department had experienced an increase in the number of break-ins, beginning in early December. There were 14 cases reported between Jan. 9 and Jan. 12 alone.
 
Gill said the number is unusual for the town of Hubbard, which tends to be quieter in terms of thefts in autos. The Hubbard break-ins were all similar in scope.
 
“One of the common denominators of the vehicles that were being broken into (is they) had electronic devices in plain sight,” said Gill, adding they thought it was the same person or group.
 
The spike and subsequent arrests should serve as a reminder to people to not leave valuables in their cars, Gill said.
 
“Thieves see these things as cash,” said Gill. “Would you feel comfortable leaving $200 in cash on the seat of your car? That’s how the criminal element sees these items — as quick cash or bartering items for drugs.”
 
Items reported stolen in the Hubbard thefts include laptops, GPS units, credit cards, personal identification, iPods, money, guns and other items.
 
A majority of the break-ins are thought to have occurred between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., Gill said.
 
Vehicles were entered by either unlocked doors or with the windows broken out.

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