Pinehurst police are investigating a string of thefts from unlocked vehicles in Village Acres earlier this week.

Investigators say someone went through about 10 vehicles parked in the neighborhood of Fox Run, Adams Circle and Spring Lake Drive. The incidents happened between midnight nd 3 a.m. Tuesday morning.

"There were no forced entries," Detective Daryl Bender said.

Bender said he believes that two or three individuals, possibly teenagers, are involved.

Several items that were taken - including a laptop computer - have been recovered. Other items, included one weapon, are still missing.

"We had one shotgun taken," he said. "That makes it even worse."

Police urge residents to take precautions like locking their vehicles, removing valuable items from the vehicles or locking them in a trunk so they are out of view of thieves.

"If one of those cars had been locked and they (thieves) went into it, or busted out a window, an alarm would have gone off and a lot of this might have been deterred," Bender said.

He also advised residents to write down serial numbers and take an inventory of their items. By doing so, police have a better chance of tracking down the items if they are stolen.

Anyone who has information about the thefts or who hears or sees anything suspicious in their neighborhoods is urged to call the Pinehurst Police Department at (910) 295-3141.