Smash-and-Grab Thief Strikes at Vestal Rail Trail

A Vestal Rail Trail user is alerting others to a car break-in that occurred while she was on the popular walking path.

In an online alert, a woman advised people to "watch your surroundings and keep nothing in your car, even if it's locked."

According to her post, she was on the trail for 30 minutes and returned to her vehicle to see that someone had smashed a driver's side window.

The woman said a backpack was stolen from the car. She said the smash-and-grab incident apparently occurred a few minutes after she parked her vehicle.

The woman wrote that the backpack contained an Apple watch, an AirPod case, along with her identification and other items. She wrote that she was "so upset, scared, angry" that the thief "watched my every move without me even knowing."

According to Vestal police, the vehicle break-in at the parking lot west of the Coal House at the Rail Trail was reported early Wednesday evening. No similar smash-and-grab incidents have been reported in the town recently.

Smash-and-grab thefts have been reported in recent weeks at Otsiningo Park lots in the towns of Dickinson and Chenango, along with the dog park at the Hickories in the town of Owego. Incidents also have occurred at the IBM Glen in the town of Union and a River Park in the town of Kirkwood.

Law enforcement officials are advising people who use walking trails or parks to always lock their vehicle and to never leave anything of value inside.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.