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(Bartlett, TN) Bartlett Police are warning residents about garage thefts as the weather warms up.

“They see a garage door open, lawn equipment inside, they have no problem going in there within seconds, they are in and out,” said Captain Marlon Jones with the Bartlett Police Department.

In the past two weeks, 4 garage or carport thefts have been reported.

But Jones said those reports will increase as the weather gets warmer, unless homeowners get smart, “Some people may steal the lawn equipment and actually use it for their lawn service and some may resell it.”

Kimberly Dunaway said she had several items in her carport, preparing for a garage sale when crooks took advantage.

“We came back at 1 in the morning and all of the gas weed eaters were gone. It didn’t take very long because no one noticed anything,” said Dunaway.

Bartlett PD is advising people to not only shut their garages and lock their doors, but also to write down serial numbers. They will use those numbers to track the equipment if it is resold at a pawn shop.