SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Summertime has brought summer crime to the township, according to Police Chief Robert Leman, who organized a sting that netted 11 arrests this past weekend.

He said they look each week at the crime statistics in the township and, since the beginning of summer, noticed an increase in the amount of larcenies from automobiles and garages.

“What they’re doing is, these kids (in the) late-night (and) early morning hours are walking up and down the street trying car doors,” he said. They then take “usually laptops, iPods, CDs, whatever they can get their hands on.”

In addition, he said, residents are leaving garage doors open during the night and the thieves are making off with beer, tools and anything else small that they can carry.

Because of the rash of incidents, Leman’s department put together a game plan, which they shared with the surrounding communities that are also experiencing the same problems.

Of the 11 arrests over the Aug. 2 weekend, some were for curfew violations and other minor crimes, but two 17-year-old Shelby males and one 18-year-old Shelby Township man were arrested for attempted larcenies from automobiles, a felony charge.

Leman said most of the other youths arrested were also from the township, although they have had a few arrests throughout the summer of youths from other communities.

“We’re going to continue what we’re doing and we’re going to see how it goes for the next three weeks or so,” he said. “They actually just started cropping up when the kids got out of school.”

Residents can be proactive and protect themselves from these crimes of opportunity, though, he said.

“Make sure their cars are locked, take valuables out of their cars,” Leman tells residents. “If they cannot for some reason, it needs to be locked in the trunk.

“Make sure garage doors are closed. Even close them during the daytime now.”