Local law-enforcement officials had their hands full this past weekend with what they call heavier than usual reports of auto break-ins.

Captain Duane Fraser of Provo Police said his office investigated 17 thefts of car stereos, speakers and radar detectors Saturday and Sunday."This weekend was definitely unusually high," Fraser said. "Most weekends, auto break-in thefts are usually a common occurrence, but we don't usually have this many."

The thefts were spread out through the city. Thieves not only broke windows, but used mechanical devices to open locks, he said.

"This is a whole different ball game from what we have been dealing with. We used to tell people to lock their car doors, but that doesn't help that much anymore, except to slow the thieves down."

Also, thieves have been taking in-dash, installed car stereos, implying that they may have staked out their victims, he said.

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"People need to watch out and keep an eye out for each other, especially for any suspicious people hanging around in some areas."

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