LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police are seeing an uptick in thefts from vehicles throughout the city.
LMPD's 8th Division in eastern Jefferson County is utilizing the Nextdoor App. They've been using it for the past few weeks to find people who are actively trying to steal cars and the belongings inside of them. LMPD does not monitor Nextdoor on a 24-hour basis.
"We catch them on Ring doorbells, Nest doorbells," said Jeff Guess, who lives near Chamberlain Lane in east Louisville.
He locks his cars and keeps them in the garage.
"Most people in the neighborhood are aware that it's happening so they try to lock their doors, put their cars in the garage, but every once in a while someone will forget," Guess said.
LMPD 8th Division Sgt. Roderick Beasley said most people's cars are being stolen and broken into in the middle of the night.
"They say 'it's not in my neighborhood,' yeah, it's all over," Beasley said. "We're seeing it from Highway 42 all the way over to Beckley Creek."
In the past 14 days, Beasley's team has responded to 15 stolen cars and 14 car break-ins.
"We just had one. They said they were in a house for no longer than 15 seconds. And their vehicle was stolen after that," Beasley said.
Within the past 72 hours, LMPD's 8th Division has had seven cars stolen and five break-ins.
Police said criminals took coins, cash and guns.
"What happens when you take someone off the streets somebody doesn't take jumping in place. And then here we go again," Beasley said. "With me talking with the other district detective sergeants, we are all experiencing this."
Beasley said the Next Door app helps them monitor the uptick, across the city.
"I was surprised with the feedback that I was getting," Beasley said. "They are actually responding and given me videos and I'm able to talk to them and give it to my detectives, that they're using and helping solving these cases."
Beasley said people shouldn't leave their car running in the driveway.
He also recommends people to lock their doors, remove valuables and secure weapons.
"Once again people, you know that sounds simple and all, but that's an opportunity for crime," Beasley said.
"It's a shame that people have to go to that route to make a living," Guess said. "There's safer and more honest ways to do it."
Door bell surveillance footage is also helping officers get one step closer to solving these cases. Right now, they have several leads.
WDRB News spoke with a few others who have also had recent car break-ins occur in their neighborhoods, in the Highlands and near Churchill Downs.
Beasley has been serving as an LMPD officer for 17 years. He started his career in West Louisville, and then went to the Highlands and now works in the city's east end.
People can meet LMPD's 8th Division officers at the Northeast YMCA on 9400 Mill Brook Road at an event on Feb. 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
LMPD's 8th Division includes:
