Multiple guests at a Durham hotel woke up Sunday morning to find their vehicle broken into.
Guests at the Hampton Inn off Cole Mill Road told WRAL at least 16 cars were broken into overnight, despite security in the area, including at least flock camera positioned in the front parking lot.
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WRAL saw multiple vehicles with plastic tarp covering windows in the parking lot.
Regina Battle and Joan Ikerd said they heard car alarms going off around 4 a.m. They saw several people breaking into vehicles in the parking lot from their hotel window.
"They were running, I mean hands full of stuff, and alarms just going off," said Battle. "It was like Christmas."
Battle said there were multiple people involved, dressed in black, moving in and out of a gray-colored car, targetting larger SUVs and trucks.
A hotel representative told WRAL the break-ins happened in less than six minutes, fleeing before the hotel security officer could respond. They said Durham police arrived about an hour later.
"At the time of the incident, our overnight security associate was conducting a routine property patrol on another area of the hotel when a guest notified us that vehicle break-ins were taking place," said Noel Anderson, Vice President for Daly Seven, the company that owns and operates the Hampton Inn & Suites and Home2 Suites by Hilton on Cole Mill Road in Durham.
Anderson told WRAL the Hampton Inn was among several Durham hotels involved in a smash-and-grab car break-in around the city on July 30.
Anderson said the said hotel staff are now are working with law enforcement and reviewing their procedures to prevent a third incident from happening again.
"The safety and well-being of our employees and guests remains our highest priority, "Anderson said.
The Durham Police Department told WRAL on Monday there were several car break-ins over the weekend and they were working to develop leads in each case.
This includes reviewing all available surveillance footage, contacting property owners and businesses for additional video and determining whether any stolen items are unique or traceable.
Durham police were unable to confirm if this incident is related to the July 30 break-ins around Durham.
Police remind the public to remove all valuables and personal belongings from their vehicles, and not to leave firearms unattended in their vehicles.
