ABANDONED CARS: Authorities look to enforce law as disabled car break-ins increase

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Highway Patrol troopers are dealing with an uptick of break-ins on vehicles left abandoned on the side of local interstates.

Motorists on Charlotte's interstates often drive by abandoned vehicles stranded on the side of the road.

Charlotte HERO Patrol Roadside Assistance comes across them every day.

"We do a lot of calls on the interstate," Nick Brown of Charlotte HERO patrol said.

Brown has come across two car break-ins since Sunday.

The first happened on the inner loop of Interstate 485 near Steele Creek. The owner of a vehicle left it on the side of the road alone for one hour. The car doors were left open and someone stole the battery from the car.

On Tuesday, Brown came across an abandoned truck near University City on I-485. The truck appeared to be rummaged through, a window was shattered and all four tires were taken.

"It is a crime of opportunity, and I think people are taking advantage of disabled motorists," Brown said. "Breaking down is frustrating enough. Coming back to a vehicle that was broken into is even worse."

Highway Patrol Trooper Ray Pierce said there's sometimes leeway before towing in case drivers have issues paying the associated fees or need a couple more days.

Troopers will likely now have to enforce their 24-hour limit before cars are hauled away.

"People see that car abandoned there and after a couple days, they realize that obviously that car is not being moved," Pierce said. "It is starting to increase, so we are going to attempt to get those vehicles off the roadway a little quicker."

Pierce and Brown encourage people to not leave their vehicles on the side of the roadway and to call for assistance if they run into trouble.

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