Citing a regional increase in daytime thefts from parked vehicles, the Upper Gwynedd Township Police Department has put out a release urging residents to be vigilant and refrain from keeping valuables in their vehicles.
The thefts have been occurring at places such as gyms, churches, day care centers and other locations where people commonly park and leave their phones, wallets and purses in the vehicle.
“We typically think of these locations as safe, and as such, don't pay much attention to the items that are visible,” reads the release. “Unfortunately, our inattention and trust is just the thing that invites a criminal group known as The Felony Lane Gang to act.”
Though not an actual gang, Felony Lane is an organized network of criminals across the United States that is known for conducting parking lot surveillance prior to breaking into vehicles. They commonly target female victims in locations where they would typically leave their purse, such as fitness centers and sports complexes. Their name is derived from their usage of the furthest drive-through lane at banks—the "felony lane"—which assists in their ability to flee if they are caught in the act of cashing fraudulent checks.
“If you must leave items in your car, put them in a hidden place prior to arriving at your destination, as it is believed look-outs are used to identify cars containing hidden valuables,” the release states. “The actors will also peruse parking lots while looking into cars. Cars are then typically forcibly entered by breaking a window or entered rapidly in places such as day care centers, where cars are left open for short periods of time.”
The release concludes by saying that while Felony Lane is a national issue, their activity locally has been particularly high. To read more about the Felony Lane Gang, please click here.
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