Communities throughout the Illawara are being urged to be vigilant about locking their vehicles, so as to not tempt opportunistic thieves.
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This follows reports of a spate of vehicle break-ins at Calderwood on Wednesday night, including a stolen van.
Calderwood resident David Hunter wasn't a victim himself, but said residents were now on high alert.
Mountain Ash Street resident Barbara Demczyszyn was among the victims.
She accidentally left her car unlocked, and the thieves took her handbag.
"It's a bit scary that it can happen here," she said. "I'm going to make sure I'm more careful now."
Also on Mountain Ash Street, Mark Lorenzetti believed he'd locked his vehicle overnight, but awoke the next day to find it unlocked.
"I normally lock it, but it was open, and the only thing that was missing was a dog stick thing you use to throw," he said. "It was a weird thing to take... I just hate thieves and liars."
A NSW Police Force spokesperson said a 15-year-old girl was arrested on Thursday after being located in a stolen Toyota Hiace van in Campbelltown.
"The van had been reported stolen from a home in Calderwood on Wednesday," the spokesperson said.
"She will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act for the offence of be carried in conveyance without consent of owner. The vehicle was recovered and inquiries continue."
Chief Inspector Brian Pedersen from Lake Illawarra Police District said there had been reports of a handful of vehicle break-ins in Calderwood, but police believed there had been more.
He urged residents to report these incidents.
Chief Inspector Pedersen said a number of the items stolen were taken from cars that weren't locked.
"People are leaving their cars unlocked, and being an opportunistic type of a crime, they just try car doors.
"If a car door opens, they go in and they're pulling out things like laptops, wallets and credit cards.
"Our message is - even at home, lock your car. Keep your cars locked, and don't have your valuables in plain sight."
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