CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The Virginia State Police is trying to figure out who stole four guns from parked police cars in Chesapeake Monday night.
Spokeswoman Sgt. Michelle Anaya said two state police SUVs were parked in a hotel parking lot, in a well-lit area, in the 700 block of Conference Center Drive.
Sometime before the troopers got back to their cars, someone vandalized them and stole four guns that were in them.
People who live in Chesapeake say they can't believe someone was brazen enough to steal from police.
“It’s ironic in a way and like dangerous! For someone to be bold enough to break into a cop car – they don’t have a lot to lose," Trevon Barksdale said. “That is very dangerous because they’re bold enough to break into law enforcement.”
Pam Aldrich questioned why those officers left their guns in their cars, in the first place.
“I wouldn’t think they would to be honest with you. As a person, I mean I’ve know that for quite some time – you don’t leave valuables in your car. You lock your car up," Aldrich said. "It’s audacious. It’s scary because you count on police to protect you and when they’re invaded and their privacy is invaded then that reflects on you and I as just people.”
Another Chesapeake resident, Keith White said: "It took quite a bit of audacity to break into a cop’s car, for sure.”
They weren't the only vehicles broken into. Anaya said at least two other thefts happened "in the immediate vicinity" the same night.
Anaya said the VSP is helping Chesapeake police with their investigation.
If you know anything that could help, call the State Police at 757-424-6800 (or on a cell phone, by dialing #77) or the Chesapeake Police Department at 757-382-6161.
Author's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said it was Chesapeake Police Department vehicles that were broken into. It has been updated to reflect that it was VSP vehicles that were vandalized.