You may want to lock your car doors and keep valuables out of sight.

That’s because authorities have reported a recent surge in entering auto crimes on both ends of the county.

They’ve also made an arrest.

A 21-year-old Ellabell man, whose name was not released, was nabbed Saturday after a chase. Bryan County Sheriff’s Det. Mickey Sands said the man had valuables in his possession linking him to five auto break-ins that were committed that day.

Also this past weekend, Richmond Hill detectives received a string of automobile break-in reports in the area of the Crossings condominium complex, near Ivey Street and Laurel Hill Circle. RHPD Det. Mike Albritton said car stereos and purses were among the items reported missing from four vehicles.

Sands said there have been several others arrested for the same crime over the last several months. This includes three men arrested recently while breaking into cars in the Strathy Hall subdivision and a Pembroke man busted for allegedly entering autos throughout numerous Richmond Hill subdivisions.

Beyond the arrests, there are more being reported.

"I’ve got two in my box right now from this past weekend in the Buckhead subdivision," Sands said. "I don’t want to say it’s an epidemic, but it is certainly an ongoing crime in the county."

Sands said, in most of the cases reported, the vehicles were unsecured, but there are a few incidents where the vehicles were secured. In those cases, items such as purses, lap top computers and electronic devices were left in plain view.

"This resulted in windows being broken," Sands said. "Although several suspects have been arrested and are being prosecuted for this crime - which is a felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison - the thefts continue in all major subdivisions throughout the county."

Sands said, traditionally, crimes like this seem to increase as the holiday season draws near.

"If you see suspicious activity in their neighborhood, please don’t hesitate to call 911 and we’ll be happy to dispatch a sheriff’s deputy to check it out," Sands said.