Ocala police are battling a new crime trend and they say they've got a new weapon.

Police say thefts from autos in ocala are up 38 percent this year- from this time last year.
a statistic they hope, courtesy card left on their vehicles will help bring down.
Police cruised through shopping centers and stopped to look into parked cars- looking for valuables left in plain view.

Detective Frank Zadnik from the Ocala Police Departments,

"Automobile burglaries that we respond to involve vehicles where the windows are left open the doors are left open and valuables are left in plain sight if we can prevent this, and we can get the citizens to help us out by paying more attention, it will be beneficial."

Police encourage drivers to lock their doors so they won't become victims.