Vehicle break-ins reported

Parents reported that someone broke into their vehicles at two Center Grove area day care facilities on Monday morning.

Parents dropping kids off between 7 and 7:30 a.m. at the Goddard School, at 5044 Bancroft Lane, and Adventures Child Care, at 300 Western Blvd., reported to police that someone broke a passenger door window in their vehicle, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office reports said.

In both cases, witness told deputies that they saw a maroon minivan or sport-utility vehicle parked close to the vehicle whose window had been damaged, the reports said.

No items were stolen, but Johnson County Sheriff Doug Cox attributed the attempted break-ins to a group known as the “Felony Lane Gang,” which will steal purses and then use ID cards and checks to withdraw cash from banks. Typically, the thieves come into Johnson County from out of state, using rented vehicles, which makes them harder to track, he said.

Felony Lane Gang cases typically pop up every couple of months, often at locations such as fitness centers or day care facilities. Thieves target the locations because women are more likely to leave a purse in their vehicle, Cox said.

Residents should never leave any valuables in the vehicle, even if they are only planning to be away for a few minutes, Cox said.