Unclaimed Loot: Trendy New Crime "Car-Hopping" Skyrockets This Summer

A pile of stolen property just waiting to be claimed. More than 200 victims this summer alone in one city.

Port St. Lucie Police say three teens on bikes stole all of this in Southwestern Port St. Lucie. Police arrested 18 year-old Justin Quinatana who told them he "takes the stolen drugs" while "Car-hopping."

Police say they've seen a spike in a this new trendy teen crime.

Car-hopping or *Car-shopping* is teens trolling, often on bicycles, for unlocked cars. They break in, steal what they can grab and move on to the next victim.

Chris Winters, had his camera stolen last week from his car left unlocked in his driveway. "No we didnt think we would see it again, but when we were at the police station they have a whole table of stuff. It's a lot of things. A Playstation 2, GPS systems, cameras, people's personal checkbooks and stuff."

"They are hitting cars that are unlocked. Lock your cars!" said Det. Bret LaGrega with Port St. Lucie Police, "They don't want to make noise. They don't want to smash windows. It's that simple. Lock your vehicles. They won't take it. And don't leave valuables in your car."

97% of the 200-plus cases of cars broken into in the city this summer are left unlocked at the time of the crime.

Winters said he learned his lesson, "I'll never leave it unlocked again."

"I'd like to say school is out. And it seems to be increasing now that school is out. Kids are going out checking door handles." Det. LaGrega said.

Port St. Lucie Police say if you believe the stolen property belongs to you and you can verify it's yours, you can collect your stolen goods at the main police department.

Port St. Lucie Police contact information: http://www.cityofpsl.com/police/index.html