Rash of car break-ins reported at popular Lenoir City swimming area

The view from “The Bluffs” in Lenoir City is considered one of the best, but some that leave their car along the side of Jackson Bend Road pay a price to see it.

Miguel Gonzalez, 16, and three friends went swimming at “The Bluffs” last week and left their car locked and some valuables inside. He borrowed his mother’s Buick SUV and found out later that someone had broken into the car.

Someone took a debit card, two T-shirts, and the vehicle registration among other things, according to a report with the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office. The teen wasn’t too happy when he saw the glass on the side of the road.

“Oh crap, I better call the sheriff’s department because obviously my parents are going to be mad,” said Gonzalez of Lenoir City.

One of the biggest reasons why most people can’t hear when their car is getting broken into is because “The Bluffs” are about a half of a mile down a trail from Jackson Bend Road. Loudon County sheriff’s investigators said there’s been about a dozen car break-ins in the area in the last month. They said they typically happen during this time of the year when it gets warm outside.

“I want the police to find out who did this because it’s not fair for people to have to pay for windows,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez says he’s tried to find out who broke into his car by leaving a video camera in the area, but hasn’t had any luck.

If you have any information about some of the recent car break-ins, you’re asked to call the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office at (865)-986-4823.