Lock your cars and keep your valuables out of sight.

That’s the message Troy Police are sending to residents today after a rash of car burglaries that took place overnight Wednesday.

Six vehicles were burglarized at three different residences in the Crowe Hill and Pinewood Estates subdivisions. “In some of the cases, the passenger-side windows were busted and in others the vehicles were unlocked,” said Sgt. Benny Scarbrough, public relations officer.

“Three vehicles at two different residences in Pinewood Estates were burglarized. One residence, with three different vehicles, was affected in Crowe Hill,” he said.

Property stolen from the vehicles includes a purse with credit cards and other personal property, identification cards, a laptop computer, a camera with accessories, an iPod, toys, cash, a ring and a GPS device with a stand.

The burglaries were discovered between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Thursday. “The pattern is the same,” Scarbrough said.

While police continue to investigate the crimes, Chief Jimmy Ennis said the burglaries serve as a reminder to residents. “A lot of times when we talk about car burglaries, people think it only happens to college students … but it doesn’t,” he said.

These burglaries can happen anywhere, although reports indicate the car burglaries have declined recently. “We only had one prior report this month, and that was for a stolen tag,” Scarbrough said. “In September 2010, we had 23 auto burglaries reported; in September 2011, we only had 14 reported.”

Ennis urged residents to lock all doors on their vehicles and to remove any valuable items from view, or better yet from the vehicle.

“I don’t want people to think they can leave their purse and valuables in the car as long as they lock it,” Ennis said. “It doesn’t matter if your door is locked, if (thieves) see a valuable item in your vehicle they’re going to take it.”

And, he said, “if you have to leave your purse or your laptop in your vehicle, lock it in the trunk.”

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Troy Police Department at 566-0500 or the Secret Witness Line at 566-5555.