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ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. - The Rockdale County Sheriff is putting gang members on notice. He said they are not welcome in his county. In recent weeks there's been a rash of car break-ins, thefts, and deputies believe its gang related. Now, deputies are working overtime to combat the problem.
The sheriff said they've been able to identify this particular gang whose committing these crimes. He said they sit 3 or 4 of them in a car in the parking lot just waiting for a victim.
Lock it or lose it is the message Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett is sending to people following the recent rash of car thefts and break-ins.
"Be attentive to your surroundings when you’re walking out of the gas station when you're walking out of shopping centers when you are walking out of your driveway," said Sheriff Levett.
Sheriff Levett said the gangs are driving city to city, committing these crimes.
"We have seen individuals sitting, in most of the time a stolen car at a gas pump. And they're sitting there waiting on the next prey, victim. Once that victim goes out of their car and perhaps pumps the gas and walks away from the car, that's when they have the opportunity to steal," said Levett.
It's a crime that has caught residents by surprise, but Sheriff Levett said deputies are working overtime.
"In Rockdale County, we're not going to tolerate this type of crime. If you come into Rockdale County and enter our cars or steal our cars, burglarize our homes, rob our businesses, we’re going to find you," the sheriff said.
Rockdale County deputies said they are working with other nearby counties to bring an end to the rash of break-ins.