Police are investigating a string of overnight crimes that began with the theft of a 2020 silver Mercedes-Benz early Thursday morning.
According to the South Heidelberg Police Department, the vehicle was stolen from the Carriage Drive area during the early morning hours of Aug. 14. It was recovered unoccupied at 6:42 a.m. on Timberlake Drive in Lower Heidelberg Township, about three hours after it was taken.
Soon after the recovery, police began receiving numerous reports from residents who discovered their vehicles had been entered overnight, with some reporting stolen property. In one case, a victim saw a vehicle resembling the stolen Mercedes speeding away from the scene. In another, stolen items from one vehicle were found inside another that had also been illegally entered.
Police said in a third incident, suspects used a garage door opener taken from a vehicle to gain entry into a residence.
In addition to Carriage Drive, which saw several theft reports, other neighborhoods affected included Fry Manor in Heidelberg and the area of North Church Road and East Washington Street in Wernersville.
Authorities are asking residents with exterior surveillance cameras to review their footage for any suspicious activity from overnight. Anyone with information or video that may aid the investigation is urged to contact Detective Sgt. Robert Heiden at 610-670-9885.