After two months of items disappearing from unlocked vehicles around Laramie, police say they have arrested Robert Akin Simpson after discovering a backpack containing stolen items. Laramie Police Department Commander Mitch Cushman says subsequent investigation revealed a stolen vehicle, drug paraphernalia, a firearm, and several electronic devices such as iPods and laptops.

"Simpson was travelling around many times a week for two months sometimes entering up to 30 cars a night," said Cmdr. Cushman. "He never ‘broke’ in, which to him meant breaking windows or forcing locks. Every time he stole, he was looking mainly for cash but took other things he could sell easily."

Most of Simpson's auto burglaries took place between 3-6 a.m. all over town. Authorities report that all thefts occurred to vehicles that were unlocked.

These recommendations were given by the LPD to reduce the chances of becoming a victim in this type of crime of opportunity:

  • Lock your vehicle at all times.
  • Keep expensive, easily mobile items (such as iPods, laptops and cameras) out of view from casual walk-bys.
  • Keep your vehicle in a well lighted place or parked next to a motion sensor light in your driveway.
  • If you must leave items in your vehicle, stow them in your trunk.
  • If you are warming up your car, lock your vehicle.

The 21-yr-old Laramie man was arrested on Thursday for multiple felony counts to include at least two counts of burglary to a vehicle, theft of motor vehicle and aggravated burglary.

A burglary becomes aggravated when the person becomes armed with a deadly weapon prior or during committing a burglary. Penalties for aggravated burglary are imprisonment for not less than five years, not more than 25 years; a fine of not more than $50,000 or both.

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