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Fifty car break-ins reported in two Johnston neighborhoods

Police believe the break-ins, which happened overnight Monday in Clayton's Winston Plantation and Wednesday night in Garner's Carrington Place, are probably related.

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CLAYTON, N.C. — Johnston County sheriff's deputies were investigating a rash of vehicle break-ins in two neighborhoods that they believe might be related.

The break-ins, which happened overnight Monday in Clayton's Winston Plantation and Wednesday night in Garner's Carrington Place, are probably related, said Tammy Amaon, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office. The subdivisions are not far from each other.

Thirty vehicles were reported broken into in Winston Plantation and approximately 20 in Carrington.

A victim said this is the third time that cars have been broken into in Winston Plantation. The thief took a Maglite and Leatherman tool from his car but missed a GPS system and other valuables, the victim said.

Tiffany Morath’s car was locked but pried open while parked at her home in the Carrington subdivision. Thieves tried to take her stereo but ended up settling for her purse. The handbag was found in the middle of the road, but Morath’s wallet was empty.

“My mother has lived here for nine years. Never once has there been a problem, never ever, and then there's this,” Morath said.

“You think that you should be safe with your property inside your car in a nice neighborhood and when people come along and violate that safety it's upsetting,” said Lt. Jeff Caldwell, of the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators recommend that people remove valuables out of their cars at night no matter how safe they believe their neighborhood may be.

Detectives continue to investigate the break-ins, Amaon said.

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