Thieves beware. 

Selma Chief of Police William Riley is taking preventative measures to address a predicted increase in crime associated with summer and warmer weather.

This week, Riley sent a letter to Selma residents and local businesses that included ways to prevent car break-ins.

Since March 1, the Selma Police Department averaged slightly more than 10 car break-in calls per week.

For the week ending April 12, car break-in calls almost tripled, to 30.

Riley said the increase could be a sign of future crimes, as incidents typically increase with warmer weather and school systems’ summer break.

“More people are outside and just hanging around at night,” he said in a Tuesday interview. “With more people out, these kinds of crimes have a tendency to increase. The main goal is to take precautions and be vigilant of your surroundings.”

Some of the recent incidents are strings of several break-ins, in the same location, at similar times, he said.

“We had an incident where cars around a hotel were struck. In that case, the person took advantage of the fact that cars were parked close together,” he said. “Some cars were broke into because they were left open.”

Riley’s letter outlined several steps to prevent breaking and entering. It said Selma residents should park in well-lit areas, ensuring doors are locked and windows are rolled-up. The letter also advised detaching CD player faces and removing valuable items from view.

“It’s hard to say that there really is a pattern,” Riley said Tuesday. “It many cases, it is a crime of opportunity.”

For businesses, Riley suggested using surveillance cameras, monitoring parking areas and notifying police of suspicious activity.

Though nor particular section of Selma is prone to car break-ins, according to Riley, his apartment complexes, hotels, motels and housing areas are more likely to see similar incidents.

“We have had a couple of episodes around the city, and with the weather getting warm, we want to make the public aware,” he said.