Nearly 20 residents in the Olde Mill Creek neighborhood were victimized over the weekend by thieves who took items from their cars and, in one case, took the car itself.

The thefts occurred on Mill Wood Way, Mill Lake Road, Falcon Street, Mill Lane Quarter, Olde Mill Creek Drive and other roads in the subdivision.

At least some of the vehicles had been left unlocked, city spokeswoman Diana Klink said. The vehicles were ransacked, and purses, wallets, CDs, change and other items were taken.

One resident on Olde Mill Creek Drive had his vehicle stolen, according to Klink.

The Jeep Liberty was stolen from the 1500 block sometime between 11:30 p.m. on June 18 and 4:20 a.m. on June 19. It was later found disabled at the intersection of Mill Lake Road and Falcon Street. It was about one-fifth of a mile away from a residence where a different resident reported a vehicle driving recklessly through his yard after striking a curb.

The investigation into the incidents is ongoing, Klink said.

“We can’t stress enough the importance of locking your vehicle and making sure that any valuables are not left within view and are locked in the trunk prior to reaching your destination,” Klink wrote in an email.

Police give the following tips to help avoid becoming a victim of such crime:

• Lock your car doors
• Don’t leave your keys in the car
• Place your vehicle in the garage, if you have a garage
• Remove all items of value when you’re not driving, including purses, wallets, laptops, phones, GPS devices and others
• Place valuable items in your trunk prior to reaching your destination, if you must leave them in your car
• Take removable radios and faceplates with you
• Don’t simply cover your valuables with a coat
• Engrave expensive accessories — it likely won’t deter theft but can help get your item back to you and track down the thief if it is stolen
• Don’t leave your registration in your car — if a criminal finds it and is able to steal a house key or garage door opener from your car, he now has your address and access to your home.