The Flagler County Sheriff's Office is investigating 52 related vehicle burglaries that occurred overnight and early Thursday morning at four locations throughout the county.

In all of the cases, the suspects smashed a window on each vehicle and made entry. Many items were stolen, including 2 handguns, deputies said.

  • Vehicle burglaries happened at 4 locations
  • Each vehicle had a window broken
  • Officials offer safety tips to vehicle owners

Director James Troiano, a spokesman with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, said the crimes are consistent with ones committed Jan. 22 in the county, when 18 vehicles were burglarized at two area hotels.

Deputies believe the burglaries are related and part of a larger trend where suspects travel to an area and target vehicles by smashing windows of cars close to one another and taking valuable items before fleeing the area.

  • Hilton Garden Inn, located at 55 Town Center Blvd.
  • Fairfield Inn, located at 400 Old Kings Road
  • Holiday Inn Express, located at 200 Flagler Plaza Drive
  • Hammock Beach Resort, located at 200 Ocean Crest Drive

Surveillance video from one of the hotels obtained during the investigation has been placed on the Flagler County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page. The video shows a dark-colored sedan enter the hotel parking lot and several suspects exit and begin breaking into vehicles. Detectives are still in the process of obtaining surveillance video from other locations.

Deputies provided the following safety tips for vehicle owners:

  • Take a few extra minutes to keep your vehicle locked.
  • Don't leave anything valuable in your vehicle. If you have to store valuables in your vehicle, lock them in the trunk completely out of sight.
  • Park in a well-lighted area close to the front of businesses where more people are likely to see if something suspicious occurs.

If anyone has any information about these recent vehicle break-ins, call the Flagler County Sheriff's Office at 386-313-4911. Callers can also remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477.

Callers are eligible to receive a reward of up to $1,000.