Within 2 weeks, Hilton Head thieves nab over $7K from car break-ins, thefts. Here’s where
Thieves nabbed over $7,000 worth of possessions during a rash of vehicle break-ins and thefts on Hilton Head Island in the first two weeks of November. Although break-ins are most common during the summer months, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office says the incidents happen year-round and advises residents to stay vigilant.
Most of the nine thefts occurred mid-island or on northern Hilton Head, and the vast majority involved unlocked vehicles. At two locations, multiple cars were plundered at once.
In two other cases, stolen credit cards were used to purchase Visa gift cards shortly after the break-ins. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Master Sgt. Danny Allen said thieves use this tactic often in order to minimize the number of charges made on the stolen cards.
As of Friday afternoon, no arrests had been made in connection with the thefts, Allen said.
11/2: Man selling moped in his front yard on Squire Pope Road was approached by two teens asking to take it for a test ride. They drove away in the $1,000 Moped and never returned, he told police
11/4: Golf club set worth $500 nabbed from a vehicle parked at a Coligny-area residence
11/5: $2,000 motorcycle trailer taken from auto shop on Spanish Wells Road
11/7: $70 purse stolen from car in front of Marshland Road residence
- 11/8: Three cars broken into at Aquatera Apartments, located off Gardner Drive near the Hilton Head Island Airport: Wallet, credit cards stolen from SUV; $100, credit card stolen from Nissan and another break-in with no reported theft
- 11/8: Four cars broken into at a residence on Bradley Beach, although nothing was reported missing from the vehicles; thieves entered the garage and took a dirt bike and electric scooter worth about $3,000 in total. Surveillance footage showed three unidentified suspects with bicycles tugging on car doors around 4:30 a.m. that morning
11/11: $250 purse, $120 wallet, $130 in cash taken from unlocked truck parked at Ombra Cucina Italiana restaurant while employee was working. CVS surveillance footage showed an unknown suspect using one of the stolen credit cards to buy a $100 Visa gift card
11/12: Lululemon bag, wallet taken from small business owner’s Acura parked near Shelter Cove. Surveillance video from the nearby Publix showed an unidentified man using one of the stolen credit cards to buy $1,000 in Visa gift cards
11/14: Toyota’s driver-side window “completely smashed” outside Gum Tree Road apartment; nothing stolen
How to prevent vehicle thefts
Tracking or predicting this type of theft can be difficult because it is primarily a “crime of opportunity,” Allen of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. In most cases, perpetrators target neighborhoods and tourist-heavy areas, repeatedly tugging on car doors in search of unlocked vehicles. By the time police respond, the thieves have usually moved on to a different area.
Allen advised residents to always lock their car doors and to avoid storing firearms, medications or other valuables in unattended vehicles. Car robberies are rarely caught on camera, the sergeant added. If possible, he urged locals to buy surveillance systems for their homes, pointing at least one camera where vehicles are parked and left overnight.
This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
