Thief steals laptop, gun from McDonald's parking lot - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

A man ran inside a Richmond McDonald's to get something to eat and when he got back someone broke into his truck and stole a laptop and a gun. Now police are trying to track down this thief.

Police say this man stopped at a McDonald's on Forest Hill Avenue around 8:15 Monday morning and was only inside for six minutes. But that was all the time a thief needed to take his laptop and pistol.

Wilton Shackelford stopped by the same McDonald's to get a drink Tuesday morning. He says stories like this make him lock his doors religiously.

"I always do," Shackelford said. "Mine's locked right now. I never get out of the car without locking it."

He's heard of cases much like this happen to his friends.

"I even had one friend who left the key in the car and somebody stole the car," he said. "I've learned from my friends the best thing for me to do is lock my car."

Police are now going over surveillance video from the restaurant to get a better look at this thief.

Police say this is an ongoing problem. They say people leave the doors of their cars unlocked, leaving cell phones and iPods and other valuable items there for the taking.

Police say some people go from car to car, checking each door handle to see if the car is open.

If it is, they quickly take anything valuable they can find.

Investigators say as long as people continue to leave their doors unlocked, they will be an easy target.

"He should not have left his car open," Shackelford said. "Otherwise, when you do that, people are going to take away from your car and it's not good, but you only have yourself to blame to a certain extent."

Police are asking for your help trying to find this thief. 

If you have any information that could help investigators, you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

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