Dedicated NC police team assigned to investigate plethora of car break-ins in Chapel Hill

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Chapel Hill Police Department is implementing a dedicated team to investigate vehicle break-ins. The team is focusing on trends in times and locations of these crimes.

During the weekend, suspects broke into 14 vehicles across town. Eight of the break-ins happened Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of Planet Fitness at 257 S. Elliott Road. Officers responded after multiple drivers discovered their windows were broken into.

After experiencing two vehicle break-ins in less than two months, Jerry Rangel said he is taking extra precautions to protect his car.

"I was like, no way this happened again," Rangel said.

Rangel, who works at Breadman's next to Planet Fitness on South Elliott Road, said his vehicle was broken into over the past weekend. According to Chapel Hill police, suspects broke into 14 vehicles across town last weekend. Eight of those incidents occurred in the Planet Fitness parking lot.

"If they want to open the door, I don't have anything valuable in there now, so at least it'll save me a couple hundred dollars from breaking the window," Rangel said. "That's pretty much all we can do right now, cause even parking it right here in front of Planet Fitness isn't really safe anymore."

Police said they have received 320 reports of vehicle break-ins so far this year.

"We've seen the uptick over the last few years, I think since COVID," Chapel Hill Police Chief Celisa Lehew said. "It's really unsettling for people."

In response, the department has created a dedicated team to investigate the cases. Lehew said several arrests have been made, but vehicle break-ins continue across the region, including in Durham.

"We know that these crimes leave patterns," Lehew said. "We often find them in parking garages, hotel parking lots, or apartment complexes."
Police said firearms have also been stolen from vehicles and that they are seeing a trend of young people being involved in the crimes.

As break-ins continue, some residents are changing their routines. Police are urging drivers to remove valuables from their vehicles, avoid leaving keys inside and park in well-lit areas.

"I take everything that's valuable to me out of my car," Corwin Kross said. "I might just bring my backpack into the gym."

How to reduce the risk of your car being broken into

• Always lock your car doors and windows.

• Do not leave valuables or keys inside your vehicle.

• Park in well-lit, well-traveled areas when possible.

• Never leave your vehicle running and unattended.

There have been 320 reports of vehicle break-ins in Chapel Hill so far in 2026.

Anyone with information or video footage related to the break-ins is asked to call the Chapel Hill Police Department at (919) 968-2760.

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