NEW SYMRNA BEACH, Fla. – Multiple unlocked vehicles, including three cars, were targeted by thieves in an upscale New Smyrna Beach neighborhood early Monday morning, with one theft involving a firearm, police said.
The thefts occurred in the Palms at Venetian Bay, a golf course community known for its typically quiet atmosphere. Among the stolen items was a gun that had been left in an unlocked vehicle overnight.
“I was nervous because it’s a quiet neighborhood and you never think it’s going to happen to your neighborhood,” resident Dolores Gabral said. “But they come from somewhere, and usually they target the quiet neighborhoods.”
The New Smyrna Beach Police Department emphasized that all of the targeted vehicles had been left unlocked, making them easy targets for criminals.
“I’ve been hearing it for 22 years. It’s a great area, why would I have to lock my doors?” New Smyrna Beach Police Chief Chris Kirk said. “If you were trying to steal things, you would go to the great areas where people don’t lock their doors.”
In response to the thefts, police have increased patrols in the area and are distributing “Lock It or Lose It” flyers to educate residents about prevention measures.
The theft of the firearm from an unlocked vehicle has raised particular concerns among law enforcement and residents about public safety.
“Jeopardizing that person, but everyone else around here, so that’s scary too,” one resident noted about the stolen weapon.
Some residents report growing unease about recent criminal activity in the area. Mary Cunning, who relocated from New York, expressed shock at the changing atmosphere in the neighborhood.
“It was the quietest place around. But this past week, there’s been break-ins, robberies, a domestic dispute, all around this neighborhood,” Cunning said. “It’s almost to the point where you expect something to happen every day... It’s worse than New York.”
Police recommend the following:
- Lock all vehicle doors, regardless of neighborhood safety perception
- Store vehicles in garages when possible
- Never leave firearms in vehicles
- Remove valuable items from vehicles
Authorities urge anyone with information about the thefts or relevant surveillance footage to contact the New Smyrna Beach Police Department or CrimeLine.