Deputies warn of smash and grab car burglaries

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Office have been greeting people in parking lots, reminding them to lock up their vehicles, after a rash of smash-and-grab burglaries.

The deputies are handing out hang tags, alerting people not to leave items in plain view. 

In 2016 the Orange County Sheriff's Office responded to 134 car burglaries in county parks alone. In the first part of this year, car burglaries are already up 12 percent over last year -- with the majority of burglars targeting parking lots at county parks, boat ramps and gyms.

Investigators said these types of break-ins are a crime of opportunity and the victims are making themselves targets.