AUSTINTOWN — The Austintown Police Department is warning residents not to leave important items unattended in vehicles, as thieves have been targeting outdoor venues.

In a statement, police said the criminals are not from the township, but are part of a group that travels though multiple states to commit thefts.

“The inconvenience of carrying your items will far outweigh the time you will spend replacing your driver’s license, yours or your child’s Social Security card, your checks, changing your bank accounts, all of your credit cards and losing all the gift cards you carry,” the statement says.

Police noted the thieves have been targeting parks, gyms and athletic fields in broad daylight with people around. Police encourage members of the public to report any suspicious activity they may see