ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Police Department is investigating a rash of smash-and-grab break-ins in the Lake Eola Heights neighborhood this past weekend.
Police say the report isn't finished yet, but residents say crime in their neighborhood seems to be getting worse.
"It's really upsetting," resident Matthew Simmerman said.
Simmerman woke up Sunday morning to find his truck's window shattered.
"There was glass on the ground," he said. "It had to have happened late Saturday night, probably early Sunday morning. From what the police told me, they probably were looking into cars to see if there was anything of value."
Surveillance video from a neighbor a few doors down proved just that.
In the video, you can't make out who it is, but you can see three men with flashlights in their hands looking into cars around 2:32 a.m. Sunday.
Simmerman believes that's when they broke into his truck and stole his backpack. Inside? Months' worth of networking contacts he's been building for his insurance job.
"Absolutely nothing of value to them. If you can consider pens, pencils, and a bunch of paperwork of value, yeah, but for me, it was really precious," he said. "It was really something I worked hard for and they, unfortunately, targeted me."
And it wasn't only him.
Down Ridgewood Road, News 6 found a red Ford Focus also had been burgled. Through the shattered glass window, a blue purse could be seen in plain sight.
"Get a job," Simmerman said, admonishing the thieves. "Do something productive in the community."
News 6 contacted OPD officials for comment about the break-ins. They say the report from over the weekend isn't completed yet. But Simmerman doesn't want to wait to get the word out.
"I'm doing this because I want to raise awareness for the neighborhood that is this is going on," he said. "Hopefully, I can prevent this from happening to someone else and maybe we can find justice for the people that are making everyone else's lives that much harder."
News 6 has some tips to help you keep your car out of harm's way. Click here.