Several auto break-ins reported over the weekend

About $500 in shopping purchases were stolen from a car parked outside a local hotel last weekend.

Sometime between Saturday and Sunday, a thief or thieves broke a window to gain access to a car owned by a Snow Hill, Md., woman that was parked outside the Red Roof Inn on Painter Drive, according to Gaffney Police. Theft losses were estimated at $580 while vehicle damage was estimated at $250.

Another car, parked on Winslow Avenue, was broken into sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning. The car owner, from Lexington, S.C., said the thief took a Pioneer navigation system valued at $1,050, Planet Audio speakers valued at $450, and caused about $500 in damage to the vehicle's dashboard.

A woman's purse, including cash, a drivers license and bank cards, were taken from a car parked on Bedford Road in Blacksburg sometime Sunday morning, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Theft losses are estimated at $209.

Gaffney Police said more than $4,000 in property, including 320 compact discs and a ring, were stolen during a "smash and grab" from a vehicle parked on Birnie Street on Friday.

The car's owner noticed someone running from his vehicle after he returned from doing business inside a nearby store. The thief had used a brick to strike the car and then pried open the door. Police said a digital music player, a cash envelope and perfume also were taken. Theft losses were estimated at $4,372 while the car sustained an estimated $1,000 in damage.

Fraud victim

A Blacksburg woman reported to police Monday she had fallen victim to a lottery scam out of Canada.

According to a police report, the woman had received a check for $4,546 as part of the scam, in which she was directed to wire back a portion of the money to cover taxes and fees before she would receive the rest of her winnings. She cashed the check at a Gaffney bank and wired funds to a location in Ontario, Canada, before learning the check was bogus.

HVAC unit stripped

The owner of a Blacksburg home told police someone stripped the home's heating and ventilation unit of external components and copper, causing about $2,500 in damage.

The theft, which occurred in the 400 block of York Road, happened sometime between Nov. 24 and Dec. 8, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office reported.

Gotta smoke?

An unknown man broke into an East O'Neal Street store early last Saturday morning and stole about $100 in Newport cigarettes and cigar "blunts."

A video surveillance system showed the man break a window at the front of DIYA Food Stores, LLC, 100 E. Oneal St., at about 1:55 a.m. Saturday. Police obtained fingerprints from the broken window. The burglar caused about $500 in damage.

Hit and run alleged

Gaffney Police are on the lookout for the driver of a pickup truck who allegedly drove away after striking another car on East Frederick Street on Monday morning.

A Gaffney woman, whose car sustained about $900 in damage, said the driver of the truck, which was towing a trailer, did not stop after hitting her car. The accident happened at about 7:30 a.m.

Man arrested

A North Limestone Street man was arrested Thursday afternoon after he allegedly returned to a Second Street home after being directed by police to leave.

Vernon Eugene Scates Jr., 46, was charged with trespassing, resisting arrest and larceny after police were called back to a Second Street home on a complaint that he had returned to the home and was underneath the structure, removing some type of copper products.

Police said they noticed Scates crouched in a nearby yard upon their return to the scene. Police said a struggle ensued when they attempted to place Scates in custody.

Unit vandalized

Cherokee County Mental Health's building on East Robinson Street was vandalized by a thief who apparently tried to steal copper from a heating and cooling unit.

The HVAC unit, valued at $15,000, was found toppled over Thursday morning, according to a report from Gaffney Police.

Home burglarized

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is investigating the Dec. 13 burglary of a Ross Street home.

The thief or thieves gained access to the home in the 200 block of Ross Street sometime between 2 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Once inside, they took electronics, clothing, shoes and cologne. Theft losses were estimated at $485 while damage to a door was estimated at $200.

A/C units stolen

Gaffney Police are investigating the theft of three central air conditioning units from a Willis Plaza business.

The three units are valued at about $10,000, according to Gaffney Police. The thief or thieves also damaged electrical wires when they cut the units from the building at 132 Willis Plaza. The thefts occurred sometime between Oct. 21 and Dec. 12.

Cigarettes stolen

A burglar smashed the front door of a Wilkinsville Highway business early Tuesday to steal Newport cigarettes.

Door damage to Fred's at 110 Wilkinsville Highway was estimated at $500 while the 14 cartons of Newport cigarettes stolen are valued at $434. The thefts occurred sometime around 1:50 a.m., when police were dispatched to an activated alarm.