Break-ins on the rise

Police generally expect property crimes to rise as the Christmas holiday season approaches and police reports are showing a somewhat significant upswing in thefts from sheds and garages of late.

Here's a look at some of the shed break-ins reported in just the past week. Lawn equipment and tools have been popular targets in these cases, but some reports indicate almost anything of value can be carried away. Among the latest victims was a local volunteer fire department.

— Two storage sheds in the 200 block of Carolyn Drive were broken into on Dec. 3, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

The victim told police she witnessed a unknown man entering the two sheds but nothing appeared to be missing afterwards. Damage was estimated at $100.

— A high pressure washer was stolen from a shed on West 9th Street on Dec. 2. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff's office, someone broke into the shed between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and took a black Honda pressure washer valued at $500.

— Welding equipment and tools were reported stolen from a storage shed on Sherman Drive following the discovery of a Dec. 2 break-in.

According to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, someone forced entry to the shed in the 100 block between 7:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and took a Lincoln-brand welder and miscellaneous tools valued at a combined $2,000.

— About $450 in theft losses were reported following the Dec. 2 break-in of a shed on Ford Road, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

Someone entered the shed in the 400 block between 6 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. and took a red Troy Built-brand pressure washer.

— About $5,000 in tools, lawn equipment and fishing tackle were reported stolen following the Dec. 3 break-in of a storage shed on Old Bridges Road, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. The stolen items included a chain saw and a weed trimmer. The incident happened in the 200 block between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

— Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department was the victim of a burglary that was discovered on Dec. 1. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, someone forced entry to a storage building at the volunteer fire department on Blackwell Road in Blacksburg between Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The thief or thieves stole tools, automotive supplies and electrical supplies valued at $750.

— A welding machine was reported stolen from a storage building on Gordon Road following a burglary.

Sometime between 2 p.m. Nov. 28 and 1 p.m. Nov. 29, someone broke into a storage building in the first block and took the machine valued at $500, according to a report from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

— About $2,000 in tools were reported stolen following the burglary of two storage buildings on Montpelier Street.