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Nearly a Dozen Car Break-ins in West Columbia

Westover Arches residents have faced a slew of car break-ins over the past few weeks.

West Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Westover Arches subdivision in West Columbia have faced a slew of car break-ins over the past few weeks. Nearly a dozen happened this weekend.

Neighbors say it's a tight-knit community, but lately there's been a disturbance.

"For a long time it's been a very relaxed neighborhood we could keep our doors unlocked and garages openm" says Micheal Fulmer, a resident there.

West Columbia Police say they have made an arrest in the case, but the suspects are juveniles, so their identities can't be released to the public. The investigation into the crimes continues.

Fulmer is caregiver to his elderly aunt who has lived in her home since 1972. He says it's always been a great neighborhood, but times are changing, "It just seems to have gotten a little more intrusive in terms of people coming into the neighborhood stealing trailers that aren't locked down or coming into cars that aren't locked," says Fulmer.

As a block captain with the neighborhood watch committee, it's Fulmer's job to keep residents informed and be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary but West Columbia Assistant Chief of Police Scott Morrison says a lot of times this happens because most people are just too comfortable.

"If it's never happened at your home you don't think it will happen but cars break -ins can pretty much happen anywhere," says Morrison.

The chief also suggest in the evenings having some type of illumination in the yard. "If you have a light that you like to leave on outside that would help as well because if it lights up your car people are less likely to break in to your car if their standing under a spotlight in your yard," Morrison says.

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