More than a dozen vehicles had windows broken overnight at Raleigh's Arlow at Blue Ridge apartment complex. The community is located off Blue Ridge Road west of downtown Raleigh, south of Hillsborough Street.

Raleigh police were called to to the 600 block of Lomu Ridge Road just before 4 a.m., where they found that 14 vehicles had been broken into.

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Authorities always warn drivers not to leave valuables in vehicles, especially if they are visible.

Raleigh police noted Friday, "Criminals often look for opportunities to steal unsecured firearms from vehicles, and those firearms can subsequently be used to commit other crimes." 

Here are other tips to prevent car break-ins:

  • Avoid leaving phones, laptops, loose change or cash in plain view.
    • Park in well-lighted areas.
      • Always roll up the windows and lock the car, even when it is in front of your home.
        • Avoid purchasing expensive items and leaving them in the car while doing other shopping.
          • Never leave GPS units/mounts visible when the vehicle is unattended.
            • Remove after-market stereo equipment from the dash. This includes CD players/radio with removable “faces.”
              • Remember to quickly notify law enforcement to help increase the chances of apprehending the suspect and preventing future incidents.

                James Ranson told WRAL he did all of those things and still woke up with his truck's windows shattered across the pavement of his Andover at Crabtree parking lot. 

                Nothin was stolen out of the car he said, but repairs cost him $300. 

                "It's disheartening," Ranson said. "There's nothing you can do about it, and i still have to get it fixed."

                His was one of several to be broken into in the early hours of Friday. A neighbor's doorbell video captured the moment a car sped out of the lot after 3 a.m. Ranson wants to see more preventative steps taken before break-ins happen.

                "This is not the first time this has happened here," Ranson said. "We would like to see apartment complexes all over Raleigh take more action on this. Anyone can come in here at any time and take whatever they want."

                Fourteen people found themselves in similar situations at the Arlow at Blue Ridge complex. Police tell WRAL very little was actually taken from the cars. 

                People living in the building who declined to go on the record said they were shocked to discover glass shattered across the complex's parking lot Friday morning. 

                The Arlow and Andover mark the third and fourth apartment complexes to be the target of multiple car break-ins this week in the Triangle.

                On Aug. 20, dozens of vehicles were broken into at Adara Alexander Place Apartments in northwest Raleigh, with additional break-ins reported at Indigo Apartments in Durham County.

                On Aug. 24, 14 vehicles were broken into overnight at the Avalon Perimeter Park apartments in Morrisville.

                WRAL sent Raleigh Police a list of questions, including:

                • Can you confirm the amount of reported cars broken into at Andover Apartments?
                  • Are police investigating the string of car break-ins in Raleigh over recent weeks as isolated incidents, or are there possible connections?
                    • What arrests have been made in relation to recent car-break ins?
                      • Have any of these incidents been caught on camera by the apartment buildings? Can RPD share that video?
                        • Is there anything people can do beyond locking their car and removing valuables to protect themselves?
                          • Is RPD collaborating with apartment building management to find ways to prevent their residents from being victimized by car break-ins?

                            A spokesperson with the department said it will have answers early next week.