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By Cole Trahan

There’s been a recent uptick in entering auto incidents locally, according to the Troup County Sheriff’s Office.

Public Information Officer Stewart Smith said that the incidents are primarily happening in residential driveways.

“Most of these people are taking advantage of the fact that car owners are not locking their vehicles,” Smith said.

While the incidents are happening throughout Troup County, Smith said the numbers are especially pronounced in the West Point Road area.

If anyone has to leave their valuables in their car, Smith recommends hiding them from plain sight.

“It’s not a hundred percent guarantee, but if people would just take the steps to either hide or remove those valuables and then secondly lock the doors, that cuts down on your chances of being a victim dramatically,” Smith said.

The LaGrange Police Department hasn’t seen the same uptick, according to Sgt. Mark Cavender of the criminal investigations section.

Cavender said that entering auto incidents weren’t particularly pronounced in any part of town. “They’re pretty fluid all over,” he said.

Additionally, Cavender said the LPD has encountered more entering auto incidents in public areas “where more cars are congregated.”

But as with the Troup County Sheriff’s Office, he said that most of the cars being entered are unlocked.