Rexburg Police have arrested a man suspected in a late Wednesday night crime spree where he allegedly broke into cars, took items and also stole vehicles.

“The suspect in this case has been taken into custody,” reported officers on their Facebook page. “With help from the public and cooperation from law enforcement partners, detectives were able to identify the suspect, obtain an arrest warrant, track him down, and arrest him.”

Last week officers reported the thefts and burglaries throughout Rexburg. In many cases, residents left their cars unlocked with the keys inside the car making the thefts easier for the suspect.

“Vehicles were stolen to be used to continue the string of thefts elsewhere,” police stated. “We expect there to be more victims who haven’t realized it yet.”

Police noted that in car burglaries and thefts, thieves move quickly and especially so when finding they can’t access a car.

“Something as simple as a locked door will usually get them to move on to the next potential victim,” they said.

Police reported that often residents experience a false sense of security in Rexburg that’s known to be one of the safest places to live in Idaho. Residents often give each other the benefit of the doubt and don’t expect anybody to rob them let alone steal their cars, police said.

“When we give advice ‘to make sure you lock your homes and cars’, we often get the response: ‘But this is Rexburg. Things like that don’t happen here!’” officers said.

Unfortunately they do, said police.

Lawbreakers — usually from outside the community — understand residents’ secure feelings and take advantage of residents’ trusting nature, police noted.

“The problem is that there are criminals who know exactly what our city’s reputation is, and they will travel to our town to find easy victims,” officers said.

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by this suspect, are asked to call Rexburg Police at 208-359-3008.