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Charleston detectives hope to get handle on “swarm of thieves”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper says the Capital City has what he describes as a “swarm of thieves.”

Charleston Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper says the Capital City currently has a “swarm of thieves.”

“They are scouting. They are trying car doors. They are going through neighborhoods at night,” Cooper said. “We have extra patrols out looking for them and we arrest them.”

But Cooper said as soon as one person is taken into custody someone else is breaking into vehicles or homes.

Cooper is urging residents to take nothing for chance even if the street they live on has never had this kind of problem.

“Take your valuables inside–leave your porch lights on and don’t leave your garage doors open or unlocked,” he advised. “It’s (been) a safe neighborhood and people take it for granted. But right now that’s where the money is, that’s where people are going.”

Cooper said most of the thefts are connected to the drug trade. He said the thieves hope to turn the items around quickly for cash so they can buy drugs.





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