Sumner police are investigating a rash of car prowls overnight in the Rivergrove neighborhood of the city and near Loyalty Park.

In total, 11 cars were broken into and the same item was removed from each vehicle.

“They were going after GPS units,” Deputy Chief Brad Moericke said.

According to Moericke, the prowlers scraped away the frost that settled on to car windows overnight and broke into the vehicles that contained GPS units, leaving the others alone.

Moericke reminded residents to remove GPS units and either take them inside overnight or place them in the glove box or out of sight. He also recommended residents with such units write down the serial numbers on their devices so police can search for the stolen items when the thieves attempt to re-sell them.

Moericke also said residents who hear or see something suspicious should call the police and said one resident whose car was prowled through the night told police this morning that he heard his alarm go off around midnight, but did not check to see what caused it before turning it off.

Anyone with information on the car prowls is encouraged to call the Sumner Police Department at 253-863-6384.